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LANDIifa THE SETTLERS. 



Tage 48. 



THE DISCOVERIES 



cm 

COLUMBUS AND OF THE ENGLISH 
IN AMERICA: 

I^'CLUDIN^ 

CONCISE NARRATIVES OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS 

FORMED BY OUR OWN COUNTRYMEN IN THAT 

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TAKEN FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES, 



AND EDITED BY 

EEV. HEXEY p! BUNSTER, M.A., 

AUTHOa OF "TRUE STORIES OF THE TIMES OF RICHARD n." ETC. 






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JAMES BLACKWOOD, 8, LOVELL'S COURT, 
PATERNOSTER ROW. 



[_77te Bight of Translation ijs JReserved.^ 









^ 



/ 1 9 C 



PREFACE. 



?0 



The connection between this country and America 
is so intimate, and so rapidly increasing, that tlie 
Editor of the following pages cannot but hope he 
may be conferring a benefit on the great mass of 
our reading population, by giving them this oppor- 
tunity of becoming acquainted with the early dis- 
coveries of Columbus and of our own countrymen 
in that important continent: 

Tales of adventure are always more or less 
exciting, and the incidents to be met with in the 
lives of the first discoverers of America, will be 
found by no means deficient in interest. Indeed 
they form part of the real romance of History, and 
constitute narratives quite as pleasurable to the 
imagination, and ot course far more profitable 
and instructive, than the romance of fiction. 

To the Spaniards chiefly belongs the credit of 
having revealed to the Old World the knowledge 
of the existence of the New. In early times navi- 
gation made but slow progress. Before the won- 
derful properties of the magnetic needle were 
discovered, few sailors were willing to venture 
themselves on the broad ocean far out of sight of 
land ; and indeed, for two centuries after that 
invention, they continued to creep along the coasts, 
considering every headland as impassable which 
ran any distance into the sea, or against which the 
waves broke with more than ordinary force. 

Don Henry, Prince of Portugal, fourth son of 
John I., king of that country, first broke through 
these restraints of timidity and ignorance ; and, by 



IV TREFACE. 

his energy and influence, the coast of Africa was 
investigated from the Mediterranean sea to the 
Cape of Good Hoi)e5 and many important islands 
in the Atlantic were brought to light. Don Henry 
died A.D. 1463, in the third year of the reign of 
his elder brother, John II. His death, however, 
did not interrupt the progress of navigation ; for 
John's ambition led him not merely to assist in 
discovering new lands, but to take steps to annex 
to the crown of Portugal the countries that were 
found. The practice of the first navigators had 
been merely to raise a wooden cross upon any 
newly-discovered coast, to carve upon some trees 
the device of Don Henry, the name they thought 
proper to give to the new country, and any other 
information that might be useful to those who 
should afterwards visit the same parts. But now 
the king's instructions were, that they should erect 
piles of stones witli a cross upon the top, engrave 
upon the stones the arms of Portugal, the kings 
name and that of the ship's commander, also the 
day and year of the discovery. This mark, which 
was more permanent than wood, was accounted 
sufficient to establish a claim to the new land ; and 
as the rights of the original inhabitants were never 
for one moment thought of, such a claim mighty 
perhaps, justly enough be pleaded against any 
other European power. 

Such was the state of Portuguese navigation^ 
when in 1492 Christopher Columbus undertook his 
daring voyage across the great Atlantic ocean^ 
under the protection of Spain. He had declared 
his expectation of discovering a vast continent in 
that direction, and offered his proposals to King 
John of Portugal; but, meeting with little encou- 
ragement at his court, he betook himself to other 
princes, and eventually, after much wearisome 



r 



PREFACE. V 

delay, Isabella, Queen of CastiJle and Arragon, 
furnished him with the assistance • he required. 
The Portuguese and Spaniards from this time 
became rivals in adventure, and jealous of each 
other's claims to countries which neither of them 
as yet had seen. In this state of affairs, the Pope, 
whose power in those days was paramount, was 
appealed to; and Alexander VI., who then occupied 
the papal throne, with arrogance equalled only by 
the ignorance it displayed, divided the world be- 
tween these two great powers, giving to Spain ail 
the countries that might lie westward, and to 
Portugal all that might lie eastward of an ima 
ginary line, drawn from north to south one hun^ 
dred leagues west of Cape Verd and the Azores. 
This grant, though no way satisfactory, for east 
and west must meet at last, served for a time the 
purposes of discovery ; and the Portuguese accor- 
dingly turned their attention to the east., while the 
Spaniards urged their discoveries to the west. 

Of the success which attended these adventures 
there can be no doubt. The good, however, which 
at the time resulted from them, and the spirit in 
which they were carried out, are more questionable. 
In the history of the world, indeed, it is hard to 
find instances where discoveries have not been too 
strongly characterised with the avarice of trade, 
and the insolence of power. It is a humiliating 
truth, that until later ages Europeans have scarcely 
ever visited any coast but for purposes of gain, to 
arrogate dominion without right, and too often to 
practise cruelty without any provocation. 

The history of early American adventure is not 
free from this charge. Throughout the whole of 
that vast continent, the discoverers became oppres- 
eors, and the discovered were oppressed. It is, 
however, but just to the character of Columbus to 



VI PREFACE. 

remark, that as his intelligence was superior to 
that of his associates, so was his philanthropy in 
advance of the spirit of the age in w^hich he lived. 
In his first voyage, especially, we find him doing 
all in his power to restrain the cruelty of his fol- 
lowers in their dealings with the poor Indians, who 
were too frequently fired upon in sport by the 
Spaniards, to show the effect of the thunder and 
lightning which the white men were supposed to 
have under their control, and hunted down with 
dogs, to make an exhibition of their death-cries, or 
to prove the swiftness with which they could run 
away. 

Columbus himself was an advocate for pac^'fic 
measures. He had the wisdom to discover the 
truth of the sentiment so beautifully expressed by 
the Christian poet — 

" Skins mav differ, but affections 
Dwell in black and white the same." 

In the following pages will be found many 
names among our own countrymen distinguished 
for kindness and consideration, forbearance and 
justice, in their dealings with the original inha- 
bitants of the lands which they were appointed to 
settle. Ealeigh and Robinson — and Penn and 
Oglethorpe — have left enviable traditions of them- 
selves in these respects both at home and abroad. 
Indeed, experience proves not only the wicked- 
ness, but the folly, of attempting to adopt a different 
line of conduct. Civilization is more readily 
effected by kindness than severity ; for the abori- 
ginal coloured tribes, every where, are inclined to 
look upon white men as beings of a superior 
order to themselves, and accordingly to treat them 
with respect. There may be narratives on record 
which appear to contradict this assertion ; such as 



PREFACE. Vli 

the case of the Harriet schooner, and others, where 
boats' crews have been seized and murdered 
without any apparent provocation ; but if these 
cases are strictly examined, they will mostly be 
found to be acts, not of original cruelty, but acts of 
retaliation fur injuries, it may be, long before 
received. 

The cruise of the Southern Cross among the 
Melanesian Islands, with a view to the civilization 
of the natives, and their conversion to Christianitv, 
furnishes a most important testimony in favour of 
this statement of the case. In a recent letter, the 
Bishop of New Zealand remarks that he had just 
finished one of his voyages ; that he had stopped 
and landed upon a very large number of islands, 
and in every instance had gone in an unarmed boat ; 
and that in no one single instance had he ever met 
with any thing but the heartiest welcome, and the 
most affectionate kindness. He then goes on to 
state, that so far from having met on his voyages 
with what philosophers call savages, his own expe- 
rience has led him utterly to disbelieve in their 
existence. 

But if the enterprises undertaken by the Spanish 
and Portuguese, exhibited too little consideration 
for the aboriginal inhabitants of the places they 
discovered, and too great severity in their dealings 
with them, it must be remembered that the temper 
of the times had much to do vrith it. Refinement 
was not the characteristic of that age, as it is of 
the present. The danger now is, not so much 
that we should exhibit cruelty, as that we should 
be deficient in that spirit of daring w^hich led to 
those great discoveries. When Columbus stood 
out to sea on his hazardous and doubtful enterprise 
— keeping the perils of his undertaking a profound 
secret in his own breast, not even venturing to tell 



via PREFACE. 

any of his crew bow far diistant they were from 
their native land, and against all their entreaties, 
and amidst every discouragement, still pressing on 
— we have an instance of human perseverance and 
brave endurance, which must serve as a bright 
example to all ages of what man's nature is 
capable : — 

" Illi robur et ses triplex 

Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci 
Commisit pelago ratem 

Primus, nee timuit pragcipitem Africum 
Decertantem Aquiionibus." 

If such could be said of him who first ventured 
his weight upon the waters, what may not be said 
of one who, through daylight and darkness, steered 
his course into the " arrowy distance/' seeking over 
unknown waves for an unknown land ! 

The same spirit of daring and perseverance, 
though under different forms of development, is to 
be seen in other instances recorded in this volume. 
The contemplation of such adventures cannot bat 
prove especially useful in what must be called a 
liighly cultivated age, wherein the natural ten- 
dency of men is towards luxury. To repress refine- 
ment is impossible, and perhaps un-needed; but 
to prevent it from degenerating into effeminacy is 
not only desirable, but absolutely essential to the 
preservation of the national character ; and one 
means by which this end may be promoted, is by 
placing in the hands of our youthful readers such 
deeds of daring as the present volume will disclose, 
and so leading them on to great achievements by 
the narrative of what man has already done. 

H. P. D. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Colnmbus's first Toya.ire— Sails from Palos with three small vessels— Bifflcnl- 
ties and dtsappointments — Unsettled state of the crews— First land seen 
St. Salvador— Interriews with the Indians— Cuba and Hispaniola discovered 
— Unceremonious vi>«>it — The si dp wreck — Columbus resolves to return to 
Castile — Frightful storm at sea — Portuguese treachery— Landing at 
Lisbon — Eeception by the King of Portugal— Return to Spain — Congratula- 
tions and honour Page 1 



CHAPTER II. 

Columbus*3 second voyage— He sails with a more numerous fleet, arrives a$ 
the Caribbee islands, and discovers Domini ca, Marigalante, and Guadalupe 
—Endeavours in vain to trade with the natives — Proceeds to several other 
islands, Montserrat and St. John's— Returns to Hispaniola, finds the 
colony ruined, and the Spaniards destroyed by their o-^vn foHy; restores 
things to a good situation ; quells a mutiny— Sets sail upon other dl'^ 
coveries; land^ at Jamaica; meets ■with a multitude of island?, to which 
he gives the name of the Queen's Garden— Steers along the coast of.Cuba=— 
Many diflaculties— Returns to Hispaniola, where he again finds everj thin;? 
in great confusion — New regulations for the secui-ity of the settlement- 
Sails for Spain..... 39 

CHAPTER III. 

Third voyage — Columbus sheers a new course— Passes by the Cape de Verd 
islands — ^Anchors at one, where the Portuguese send their lepers to be 
cured by living upon turtle — Sails thence to the West, discovers the Isle 
of Trinidad, and afterwards the Continent, wisich he at first supposed to be 
an island," but finding his mistake called it Paria— Pearls— Civilities of the 
Indians— Return to Hispaniola— The troubles of that island, Eoldan's 
rebellion— Tranquillity restored— Gold in abundance— The Court of Spain, 
alarmed at the many complaints from the Indies, sends a deputy to hear 
and determine them— Intrigues of Bovadilla— The admiral with his two 
brothers sent home in irons 74 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

An account of discoveries made by other Spaniards, while Columtus was 
engaged in his thiid voyage Page 9G 

CHAPTER V. 

Fourth voyage— Columbus arrives at Eispaniola, and meets with the basest 
usage from Obando, the new governor— He leaves that island, and prose- 
cutes his discoveries aloug the coast of the continent— Proceeds to the 
Ibthmus of Darien— Sails to the haven of Porto Bello— Stnds a detachment 
up the river Veragua to the Indian mines— Forms a settlement at the 
mouth of the river Belem— A cacique named Quibio attempts to set fire to 
the houses— Capture of the cacique— His singular escape, and attack upcn 
the settlement— The new settlers rejoin the admiral— More sufferinp:s 
and hardships— The admiral runs the ships on shore on the coast of 
Jamaica— Sendh two canoes to Hi spaniel a— The hardships in the voyage 

Tr( ubles in Jamaica — The Spaniards sail thence to Hispaniola, [and 

afterwards to Spain, where Columbus dies— His person and character... 103 

CHAPTER Yl. 

Further adventures of the Spaniards in the Western World after the death 
of Christopher Columbus— State of Hispaniola under the government of 
Nicholas de Obando— Stttlement of Porto Rico by Juan Ponce de Le^n— 
Diego Columbus made governor of Hispaniola— The pearl fishery of 
Cubagua • » H8 

CHAPTER YII. 

Alonzo de Hojeda and Diego de Nicuessa, obtain patents for making new 
discoveries, and sail for the West Indies— Hojeda lands at Carthagena, and, 
marching into the country, has many of his men cut off, and he himself 
narrowly escapes; but is assisted and revenged by Nicuessa— Hojeda forais 
the settlement of St. Sebastian— Retires to Hispaniola— Dies of want — The 
colony saved by the prudent advice of Nunez de Balboa— Diego de 
Nicuessa plants the colony of Nombre de Dies; his misfortunes and 
miserable death 152 



CHAPTER VIIL 

Diego Columbus sends Diego Velasquez to plant a colony in Cuba; a descrip- 
tion of t'hat island ..- 164 



CHAPTER IX. 

Tlie discoveries made on the continent by Francis Hernandez de Cordova, 
lieutenant of Diego de Velasquez — Cordova's misfortunes and hardships— 
He returns to Cuba— His death 170 



CONTENTS ri 

CHAPTER X, 

The discoveries made on the continent by the command of James Velasqnez, 
under John Grijalva-They land in the island of Cozamel, proceed to New 
Spain, and defeat the Indians of Potonchan— They then land on the hanks 
of the Rio de Grijalva, where they receive presents fi'om the Indians- 
Steering thence they are invited on shore by the Mexicans, with whom they 
trade for goM— They afterwards visit several islands^ discover temples 
with idols and hnman sacrifices ; purchase many bright copper axes which 
they mistake for gold, and return to the island of Cuba— Grijalva f als into 
trouble....^ » - ?age 176 

CHAPTER XL 

DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH IN AMEEIOA. 

The discoveries m,ade by the English in America during the I'efgns of King 
Henry VII. and VIII.— John Cabot visits Newfoundland— His son 
Sebastian discovers the continent of America— Mr. Hore attempts to 
establish a colony in Newfoundland— &ir J-ohn Hawkins' three voyages to 
Guinea— A Brazilian chiet presented to King Henry VIII.— Drake's 
voyage to the Isthmus ot Darien; his dangers and daring— View of the 
South Sea— Intelligence of treasure and disappointment— Drake plundei-s 
Santa Cruz— Seizes mules laden with gold and silver— Hazardous attempt 
to regain his p'nnaces— Drake's return to England— Sir Humphrey Gilben 
obtains a patent tor settling m America— Takes formal possession of New- 
foun(fland— His ^sasters, and loss a^ sea on his way home «... 186 

CHAPTER XIL 

Sir "Walter Raleigh fits out two ships to make discoveries in the South — 
Takes possession of Wokoken and Virginia— Interview with a native 
prince - Civilities ; and trade— Raleigh returns to England— Settlement in 
the island of Roenocke by Sir Richard Gr en ville— Drake's arrival and 
assistance- Sir Richard'^s second attempt — More misfortunes— Mr. White's 
settlement — Abandonment of the island— Captain Davis sets out in search 
o: the North-West Passage— His discoveries in North America- Craise of 
the Sunshine and Moonshine— Davis's second voyage— Games "vvith the 
natives— Their thieving propensities— Sickness and dissatisfaction among 
the English— More adventures— Return of Captain Davi«— Raleigh sails 
south- Lauds at Trinidad— Bums St. Joseph's— Sets five Indian kings at 
liberty— Meets with and overcomes great difficulties — Search up the 
Amana and Oronoko— Interview with the King of Aromaia— Cataracts— 
Advice of the old cacique— Sir Walter takes possession of many images and 
plates of gold— Visit to a gold mine — Revenge on the Spaniards — Expedi- 
tions to Guiana 213 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Ceptaln Charles Leigh forns a settlement at Guiana— Discontent an(J 
mutiny among his men— Ruin of the enterprise— Sir Oliver Leigh seeks to 
support his brother— Captain St» John and his party search for gold~Ar 



Xil COJ.' TENTS. 

ambuscade attack of the Indians — Adventurotis voyage — Fate of the cre^r— 
Robert Harcoiirt's attempts to form a settlement— Intercourse with the 
Indians— Search for the golden mountain— Disappointment— Mr. Harcourt's 
return- Sir Walter Raleigh's last voyage to Guiana— Spaniards attempt to 
oppose his landing at Gomera— Reaches Trinidad— Kindness of the Indiaria 
—Captain Keymis and young Raleigh set out in search of gold — Engage- 
ments with the Spaniards — Young Raleigh killed— Fate of Captain 
Keymis— Sir Walter's return to England — His arrest and execution — 
Voyages by the Virginia Company — Adventures and discoveries In 
Virginia by Captain Gosnold, Captain Fringe, Captain Gilbert, and Captain 
Weymouth Page 257 



CHAPTER XIV. 

North and South Virginia—King James I. grants patents for two Companies 
—-Captain Newport's settlements— James's River and James's towm— 
--►Misfortunes and confusion— Captain Smith— Lord Delawar appointed 
governor of Virginia— Ketuni of the runaways— Supplies from England — 
Intermarriages with the Indians— Some accoimt of Virginia— Its climate, 
soil, and produce — Proceedings of the second Virginia Company — Settle- 
ment of New England— Mr. John Robinson and the Pilgrim Fathers — 
Squanto, fiiendly intercourse with the Indians — Great prosperity ot the 
settlement — Situation and climate of New England— Settlement of the 
Bermudas or Summers Islands— Captain Tucker's government— Daring 
voygge of five fugitives to Ireland— Captain Butler appointed governor — 
Bescription of the islands....... „.. 284 



CHAPTER XV. 

fftidson's voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage— Winter on the 
coast of New Britain —Hardships — Exti'eme cold— Scarcity cf food— Break- 
ing up of the ice— Shameful behaviour of some of the crew— Sad end o 
Oaptain Hudson— Fate of his murderers— Button's voyage; its success — 
The settlement of Barbadoes— Sir George Ascue— Navigation Act— Success 
cf the first sugar colony— Introduction of the slave trade — Account of 
Barbadces— Sir Thomas Warner and Monsieur Desnambue plant settlements 
at St. Christopher— Success of the English colony— Spanish jealousies — 
JDisasters— Departure of the Spaniard^- Cultivation- of tobacco— Settle- 
Uients formed at Nevis, Montserrat, Barbuda, AnguiUa, and Antigua... 323 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Klnsr Charles I. grants Maryland to Lord Baltimore— Two hundred Roman 
Catholics under Leonard Calvert proceed thither— Overtures of trade with 
the natives— Happiness of the colony disturbed— Mr. Calvert's dangers— 
His decision saves the colony— Description of Maryland — The conquest of 
Jamaica— Oliver Cromwell's policy— General Venables— Situation and 
climate of the island— The cocoa-nut — Pimento, or wild cinnamon- 
Carolina colonised— Spanish want of success— French equally unfortunate 
..-Grant ot King Charles IL~Suc<:ess of the colony -Its situation and 



CONTENTS. XUl 

prodnce—Tarpentine and tar— Settlement of New York by the Englisli — 
Hudson's RiTer— The Dutch colonies— East and West Jersey— Swedes the 
first settlers— Description of the province— Its soil, and convenience for 
trade— The Bahama Isles discovered— Captain Wiliiam Sayle's visit- 
Providence island— Spanish cruelty— The frigates — the successful govern- 
ment of Mr. Woodes Sogers Page 344 

CHAPTEPw XVII. 

Erief sketch of the formation of the Hudson's bay company— Situation and 
extent of Hudson's bay— The company's first forts and factories— Their 
success— French jealousies and designs defeated— Pri ce Rupert's river — 
Mr. Dobbs' account of the first proceedings of the company— Religious 
ceremonies, manners and customs of the Indians — Himting excursions, 
anointing and cleansing — The beaver and its singular habits— Pennsylvania 
—Dutch and Finlanders the first planters— Disputes — Admiral Penn, hi.« 
friendly intercourse with the Irrdians— Distribution of land-Penn's wise 
aoministration— Love and esteem of the Indians for Admual Pena. 377 

CHAPTER X^ail. 

Plan for settling the province of Georgia— Mr, Oglethorpe's strict discipline, 
and its good results —The Creek Indians— Interesting in ttrview— Several 
Iqdian chiefs visit England— Presentation at the court of King George I. 
-—Terms of trade with the Indians settled — ^No spirits to be imported — No 
negro labour— Forts built— Tiade extended— Designs of the Spaniards— Mr. 
Oglethorpe's treaty— Grants—The conspiracy— French envy— ilr. Ogle^ 
thorpe's soimd judgment— His journey to the Indians without escort- 
Security of the colony— Nova Scotia - Sir Samuel Ar gall's cniiiie— Scotch 
colonists— Newfoundland— Proposal of the Earl of Hahfax — Grant of land 
to discharged soldiers and sailors— Large embarkation— Building of the 
town of Halifax— Small parties— Dangers -Admiral Boscawen— Descrip 
tion Qx Novu ScvUa „.,.,.... :^C;] 



THE DISCOYEEIES 

OF 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 

IN AMEEICA. 
CHAPTER I. 

Columbus's first voyage — Sails from Palos with three small 
vessels — DiflSculties and disappointments — Unsettled state of 
the crews — First land seen, St. Salvador — Interviews with the 
Indians — Cuba and Hispaniola discovered — Unceremonious 
visit — The shipwreck — Columbus resolves to return to Castile 
— ^Frightful storm at sea — Portuguese treachery — Landing al 
Lisbon — Reception by the King of Portugal — Eeturn to Spain 
— Congratulations and honours. 

Christopher Columbus was born at Cogolato, in 
the territory of Genoa, and, having been early 
taught navigation, lived by drawing charts for the 
sea-service. The skill of the Portuguese in mari- 
time affairs at length induced him to settle at 
Lisbon, where, by the regularity of his conduct, he 
acquired a considerable number of friends, married 
a woman of fortune, and for some time after 
traded to the coast of Guinea. 

Columbus, reasoning upon the spherical figure 
of the earth, thought it highly probable that the 
continent on one side was balanced by an equal 
quantity of land on tlie other ; and in this he was 

B 



2 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

fally confirmed, by observing, wlien at the Cape do 
Verd islands, that the winds at a certain season 
constantly blew from the west, which he thought 
must be owing to a large tract of land on that side. 
As the Portuguese had already discovered great 
part of the coast of Africa, and were filled with 
hopes of finding a passage to the Indies, he had no 
doubt that by sailing to the wesfc he should dis- 
cover a shorter way thither, and by that means 
obtain the spices and other rich commodities of 
those countries, much cheaper than they were sold 
to the Venetians in Egypt, after being brought by 
land through Persia. 

Having strengthened his opinion by many argu- 
ments, he laid them before the state of Genoa with 
a proposal for making new discoveries; but that 
republic rejected his scheme, from the fear of draw- 
ing upon it the resentment of several princes. 
Upon this he addressed himself to John II., King of 
Portugal, who listened to his project, and amused 
him with the hope of putting it in practice, till, 
having drawn from him the essential part of his 
scheme, he, uuder pretence of sending supplies 
to the Cape de Verd islands, fitted out a vessel in 
order to make these discoveries himself, without 
allowing Columbus either the profit or honour 
he might justly have hoped to receive from them. 
This ungenerous enterprise, however, miscarried 
through a want of courage and conduct in the' 
persons employed. 

Conduct so unfair and clandestine was deeply 
resented by Columbus, who resolved to leave Por- 



WESTERN WORLD. 3 

tiigal ; and that very year, 1485, sent his brother 
Bartholomew with the same proposals to Henry 
VII., King of England, while he himself prepared 
to go to Spain on the like errand. But Bartholo- 
mew, having being taken and plundered by pirates 
in his passage, was, on his arrival at London, reduced 
to such extreme poverty as rendered him unable 
to gain an audience of his majesty, until, by draw- 
ing and selling charts, he had acquired some repu- 
tation, and equipped himself with things necessary 
for him to obtain access to the king. This honour 
he received in the year 1488, when he met with 
all the success that could be desired, and actually 
entered into an agreement with Henry VII. on 
behalf of his brother, several years before Chris- 
topher closed with their Catholic majesties.^^ 

Meanwhile Christopher Columbus met with 
many difficulties at the court of Ferdinand and 
Isabella ; where his scheme being treated as an idle 
project, and himself exposed to ridicule, he was 
with difficulty prevented, by some who espoused 
his cause, from coming to England, to see what 
success his brother Bartholomew had met with. 
However, Queen Isabella at length approving his 
scheme, articles of agreement were signed in 1492, 
by which Columbus was made viceroy of the coun- 
tries and admiral of the seas he should discover ; it 
was agreed, also, that he should have the tenth of all 
that was bought, bartered, found, or acquired, within 
those limits, after the charge of conquest had been 

* This title was conferred as a mark of distinction upon 
Ferdinand for his crusade against the Moors. 



4 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

defrayed, together with an eighth part of all he 
should bring home with his fleet, in consideration of 
which he was to be at one-eighth part of the ex- 
pense of fitting it out. 

The necessary preliminaries being thus adjusted, 
he was allowed three small vessels, the Santa 
Maria, commanded by himself; the Pinta, under 
the command of Martin Alonzo Pinzon ; and the 
Nina, with square sails, commanded by Vincent 
Yanez Pinzon, brother of the former ; the latter 
furnishing one-half of Columbus's share of the 
expense. 

This small fleet, which carried only about one 
hundred and twenty men,* set sail from Palos on 
the .3rd of August, 1492 ; but the next morning the 
rudder of the Pinta broke loose, which obliged the 
admiral to lie to. This damage, which was sup- 
posed to have been contrived by the master, who 
was averse to the voyage, was however soon re- 
paired. Some of the superstitious seamen, however, 
would have interpreted this accident as an ill omen ; 
but Columbus wisely told them, that no omen could 
be evil where people were engaged in a good de- 
sign. He endeavoured to divert their attention 
from su^ch trifles by teaching them the principles of 
navigation, and to keep up their spirits by giving 
them right sentiments of the undertaking in which 
they were embarked. 

The fleet reached the Canaries on the 11th, and 

* Herrera says that this fleet was manned by only ninety, but 
many other authors of good authority represent the number as 
aboTe, 



WESTERN WORLD. 5 

stayed at the islands of Grand Canaria and Isabella 
till the 6th of September, in order to purchase 
another ship ; but, being disappointed, they sailed 
to the westward with very little wind. Three days 
after losing sight of land, many on board wept 
bitterly from the apprehension that they should 
never see it more. To remove this childish de- 
spondency, which it was feared would infect the 
whole company, Columbus gave them the most 
confident assurances of prosperity and wealth, and 
at the same time thought proper to deceive them 
in his reckoning ; for, though they sailed eighteen 
leagues that day, he pretended that they had made 
no more than fifteen, resolving thus to disguise his 
reckoning during the whole voyage, that these 
spiritless fellows might not think themselves so far 
from Spain as they really were. 

On the 12th of September he was one hundred 
and fifty leagues west of Ferro, and at this dis- 
tance from land discovered the trunk of a large 
tree, which appeared to have been long floating in 
the water. He here found a strong current setting 
to the north-east, and having run fifty leagues 
farther westward, on the 13th he perceived the 
needle varying half a point towards the north-east, 
and at daybreak half a point more. This varia- 
tion, which had never been observed before, filled 
him with great surprise ; and his amazement was 
much increased when, sailing about one hundred 
leagues farther, he found that the needle varied at 
night about a point to the north-east, and in the 
morning pointed upon the north star. 



6 DISCOVEKIES IN THB 

On the 14th, the people on board the Nina were 
surprised at the sight of a heron, and some tropical 
birds ; but the next day their astonishment was 
greatly increased at seeing the sea covered with 
green and yellow weeds, that seemed to have been 
lately washed away from some rock or island : 
hence they concluded that they were near land, 
especially as they found a live lobster floating 
amongst the weeds, and afterwards perceived the 
sea-water grow less salt as they advanced ; they 
were also attended *by great shoals of tunny fish. 

On the 18th, Martin Alonzo Pinzon, captain of 
the Pinta, who was a-head, lay to for the admiral, 
and informed him that he had seen a great number 
of birds flying westward, and thought he discovered 
land to the northward at fifteen leagues' distance ; 
but the admiral, being convinced that he was 
mistaken, would not alter his course, though 
solicited by the people, who readily gave credit to 
such an agreeable illusion ; but the next day the 
admiral seeing a number of sea-gulls, which he 
supposed could not fly far, began himself to con- 
ceive hopes of soon reaching land ; yet, sounding 
with a line of two hundred fathoms, he could find 
no bottom. Three days after they took a bird like 
a heron, of a black colour, with a white tuft on the 
head, and web- footed ; they also saw abundance of 
weeds, and in the evening were visited by three 
small singing-birds, which flew away at daybreak, 
and confirmed Columbus in the opinion that they 
could not be far from land. The next day they 
also saw a tropical bird, and met with such a 



WESTEEN WOELD. 7 

quantity of weeds as filled them with apprehensions 
that their course would be impeded. 

As the wind had hitherto been always right 
astern, the people were under the most dreadful 
apprehensions that they would never have a fair 
gale to carry them back ; but about this time it 
shifted to the south-west, which gave great satis- 
faction to the admiral, as it afforded him room to 
convince the sailors of the vanity of their fears ; 
yet, in spite of all his reasons and remonstrances, 
they began loudly to murmur, from the apprehension 
of perishing at sea in quest of a country that had 
no existence, and their discontent made them so 
outrageous, that a mutiny would probably have 
ensued had not a brisk wind sprung up at west- 
north-west, and demonstrated that they would 
always have a chance of returning. Their hope of 
obtaining land was also revived by seeing a pigeon 
fly over the ship, and by the sight of severa,! small 
birds flying from the west. 

In proportion as the men were elated by these 
signs, the greater was their mortification and their 
disappointment. They not only loudly complained 
against the admiral, who, they said, had, from a 
foolish and ill-grounded fancy, formed the design 
of raising his own fortune and family at their ex- 
pense, but caballed against him, maintaining that 
they had already proceeded far enough to shew 
their courage and perseverance, and that it was 
therefore high time to return to their friends and 
country, though they should be even obliged to 
compel him to consent to it. They considered 



8 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

that the admiral was a foreigner, and therefore 
would scarcely have interest enough at court to 
bring them to punishment for their disobedience, 
especially as he had powerful enemies, who, they 
knew, would embrace every opportunity of oppos- 
ing his designs. In short, their terror and despair 
were raised to such a height that some proposed 
throwing him overboard, and alleged that, when 
that was done, they could be secure from all farther 
danger, by aflBrming, on their return to Spain, 
that he had fallen into the sea while he was mak- 
ing his observations. Columbus, who was not 
ignorant of this mutinous spirit, exerted all his 
ability in order to remove it : he sometimes re- 
presented the duty they owed him, as being invested 
with legal authority, which he was resolved to 
maintain at the hazard of his life ; and at others, 
reproached them with their cowardice and im- 
patience, which even the most evident signs of their 
being near land could not remove. In short, he 
shewed the folly of their fears, and so far encour- 
aged their hopes as to prevent their taking any 
resolution that could prejudice the important enter- 
prise in which they were engaged. 

On the 25th of September, about sunset, Pinzon, 
whose ship was alongside of the admiral, suddenly 
cried out ^' Land ! land!" and pointed towards 
the south-west, where there appeared some- 
thing like an island at twentj^-five leagues' dis- 
tance. This at once filled the men with such joy 
tliat they gave thanks to God with great fervour 
and devotion ; and, though Columbus was of a dif- 



WESTERN WORLD. 9 

ferent opinion, he readily complied with their cla- 
morous demand of sailing to it, and stood towards 
the supposed island during the greater part of the 
night ; but in the morning all their hopes vanished, 
and, their dissatisfaction returning, they renewed 
their complaints. The admiral, however, with a 
steadiness and intrepidity peculiar to himself, per- 
sisted in the execution of his purpose. 

On the 29th they saw several wagtails and gulls, 
many flying fishes also appeared, and sometimes 
fell into the ship, and in the afternoon they met 
with a large quantity of weeds, which the men 
fancied afforded a proof that there was ground near 
them under water, and that they should soon run 
upon it and perish. 

On the 1st of October the pilot of the admiral's 
ship was, by his own account, five hundred and 
seventy-eight leagues west of the island of Ferro ; 
and though the distance according to Columbus's 
reckoning was seven hundred and seven, he winked 
at the mistake, lest the sailors should become de- 
jected on knowing their great distance from home. 
Two days after, perceiving no birds, they imagined 
they had passed between some islands, and the 
sailors earnestly entreated the admiral to steer 
sither to the one side or to the other in quest of 
the land they imagined they had left. He how- 
ever refused to comply with their entreaties, being 
unwilling to lose the favourable wind that carried 
him to the westward, and resolving not to take any 
^tep to lessen the reputation of his undertaking, 
which must have suffered in the opinion of hia 



10 DISCOYEHIES IX THE 

people, had he changed his course from that whicli 
he had all along assured them would terminate in 
the accomplishment of their wishes. This fortitude 
they termed obstinacy and madness, and were ac- 
tually on the point of taking some desperate reso- 
lution to his prejudice, when their hopes were again 
revived by the arrival of upwards of forty sparrows, 
and other birds flying from the west. 

On the 7th of October there appeared again some 
imperfect signs of land, but nobody would venture 
to mention it ; for though their Catholic majesties 
had promised a pension of thirty crowns per annum 
for life to him who should be so fortunate as first 
to discover land, yet, in order to prevent their noisy 
exclamations at every trifling imagination of this 
sort, it was also decreed, that whoever should cry 
land three days before it was actually made, should 
forfeit the reward, even though it should be after- 
wards proved that he was the discoverer. In spite 
of this precaution the Nina, which being the best 
sailer kept always a-head, fired a gun, and hoisted 
her colours in token of land ; but the appearance 
that misled them totally vanished at their nearer 
approach. The people were, however, the next day 
in some measure comforted under their disappoint- 
ment by observing many flights of large and small 
birds, which proceeded from the west to the south- 
west ; when the admiral, being fully persuaded that 
these could not go far to sea, after the manner of 
the Portuguese, who had discovered several islands 
by following the flight of such birds, altered his 
course and stood to the south-west; for he had 



WESTERX WOKLD. 11 

now run seven hundred and fifty leagues to the 
westward of the Canaries, within which space he 
himself expected to make land. 

On the 8th of October they were visited by 
twelve singing-birds of different colours, and saw 
many others, as jays, ducks, and gulls, flying to 
the south-west. The air also appeared fresh and 
odoriferous ; but the pusillanimous seamen had been 
so often deceived, that these certain signs of their 
being near land could not suppress their murmurs, 
which, during the two following days, increased to 
such a degree, that the brave Columbus, in spite 
of all his endeavours, would not have been able 
much longer to withstand the storm, had it not 
been providentially dissipated by such manifest 
proofs of their approach to land as could not be 
disputed. 

On the 11th of October, those on board the 
admiral's ship saw a green rush together with a 
large rock-fish swim by the ship ; the sailors of the 
Pinta discovered a cane floating, and, what was 
much more extraordinary, took up a staff curiously 
wrought, together with a small board ; and at the 
same time the crew of the Nina perceived a branch 
of thorn full of red berries. 

These objects having now assured the admiral of 
their near approach to land, he at night, after 
prayers, reminded his men of the mercy of God in 
granting them fair weather during such a long 
voyage, and exhorted them to be vigilant that 
night, as he expected to see land next day, and not 
only mentioned the pension of thirty crowns, but 



12 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

promised to give a velvet doublet to him who 
should be the first discoverer. After this he re- 
tired to the great cabin, whence^ perceiving what 
appeared to be a light on shore^ he called to one of 
the sailors, who, being desired to look, acknowledged 
that he plainly saw it, and supposed it to be a 
candle or torch belonging to some fisherman or 
traveller, as it seemed to move, to vanish and ap- 
pear by turns. This increased their vigilance and 
caution, though they still pursued their course till 
about two in the morning, when the Pinta, being 
far a-head, gave the signal of land, which was first 
discovered by a sailor at the distance of two 
leagues ; the pension, however, was given to the 
admiral, who had before perceived the light. As 
they were now so near the shore, all the ships lay 
to, and the people waited for morning with the 
utmost impatience, eager to feast their eyes with 
what they had so long and so earnestly wished to 
behold. 

Their hopes were not now disappointed, for day 
no sooner dawned than they perceived an island 
about forty-five English miles in length, and almo::t 
one continued plain covered with green trees; it 
was supplied with delightful rivers, and had a 
great lake in the middle. It was inhabited by a 
number of people, who being astonished at the 
sight of the ships, which they at first mistook for 
living creatures, ran down to the shore. The 
Spaniards were inflamed by the most eager curiosity 
to know the particulars of this interesting discovery, 
and the vessels were no sooner brought to anchor, 



WESTERN WORLD. 13 

than the admiral landed in his boat well armed, 
with the royal standard displayed, attended by the 
other two captains in their respective boats, with 
the particular ensigns of this enterprise. 

Immediately on landing they kneeled on the 
shore, gave thanks to God, and, shedding tears 
of joy, kissed the ground. Columbus, then stand- 
ing up, gave the island, which was called by the 
natives Guanibani, the name of St. Salvador,* and 
took possession of it for their Catholic majesties. 
This ceremony being ended, he was acknowledged 
as admiral and viceroy by the Spaniards, who now 
implored his pardon for the insults they had offered 
him, and joyfully swore to obey liim as their Majes- 
ties' representative. 

Several of the Indians were present at these trans- 
actions, and, as they appeared to be very simple 
and quiet people, Columbus distributed amongst 
them strings of glass beads, red caps, and other 
things of small value, which they received with 
pleasure ; on his return to his ship, some of 
them swam after him^ while others followed in 
canoes, with javelins armed with fish-bones, spun 
cotton, parrots, and other things, to barter for such 
trifles as he had distributed among the rest. Few 
of these people seemed to be above thirty years of 
age ; they were of a middle stature, well-shaped, 
and of an olive colour, with thick lank black hair, 
which was generally cut short above their ears, 
though others had suffered it to grow, and tied it 
up like the tresses of women. They had open 
* It is now called Cat Island. 



14 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

countenances^ very regular features, and high fore- 
heads. The bodies of some and the faces of others 
were painted blacky white, and red^ though a few 
of them had only their noses and eyelids coloured. 
But all of both sexes were entirely naked ; and so 
little were they acquainted with European arms, 
that they handled a naked sword by the edge, 
without any suspicion that it was capable of hurt- 
ing them. Some of the people being asked bj 
signs how they had got the wounds, the marks of 
which were still visible on their bodies, answered 
in the same manner, that they received them 
in their own defence, when fighting against the 
inhabitants of other islands who came with a view 
to enslave them. 

The next morning, being the 13th of October, 
many of the Indians came to the ships in their 
canoes, which were made by hollowing the trunks 
of trees. Some of these were so small as to hold 
only one person, and others large enough to con- 
tain forty. They were rowed with paddles, and 
were so light that, if they happened to be overset, 
the rowers could easily set them right again, and 
empty the water with calabashes of dried gourds, 
which they carried with them for that purpose. 

These Indians had no jewels nor any kind of 
metal, except small plates of gold that hung at 
their nostrils, which, by their signs, they informed 
the Spaniards came from the south and south-west, 
where there were many countries and islands. 
They were so fond of possessing any thing belong- 
ing to the Spaniards, that some of them picked up 



WESTERN WORLD. 15 

bits of broken earthenware that lay upon the deck, 
leaped into the sea, and swam ashore Avith them. 
They were ready to exchange any thing in their 
possession for the most insignificant trifles, and 
some of them gave twenty-five pounds of well-spun 
cotton for three small pieces of Portuguese brass 
coin not worth a farthing. Not that they believed 
these things had much intrinsic value ; but they 
seemed to prize them only because they belonged 
to white men, whom they considered as people 
descended from heaven, and of whom they desired 
to keep some memorial. 

On the 14th of October the admiral coasted the 
island in his boat towards the north-west, until he 
discovered a large bay or harbour sufficient to con- 
tain all the ships of Europe, being all the while 
followed both by sea and land by crowds of the 
inhabitants, who expressed their wonder and regard 
by a variety of gesticulations. At length, arriving 
at a peninsula, he saw several of their houses and 
plantations, which appeared as pleasant as those of 
Castile in the month of May. However, finding 
that this was not the land he was in search of, he 
took seven of the Indians to serve as interpreters, 
and, returning to his ships, sailed to other islands 
that were visible from the peninsula. 

On the 15th of October, having sailed seven 
leagues, he arrived at the west end of another 
island, which he found to be about ten leagues in 
length, and to it he gave the name of St. Mary of 
the Conception; but perceiving that the inhabi- 
tants differed but little from those of St. Salvadoi', 



16 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

and that it produced nothing worth notice, he con- 
tinued his course westward, and anchored upon the 
coast of another larger island, which extended 
north-west and south-east above twenty-eight 
leagues. Before he reached this agreeable spot, 
which he named Fernanda, he took up an Indian 
whom he found at sea in a small canoe, furnished 
with a piece of their bread, a calabash filled with 
water, and a little earth resembling vermilion, 
w^hich was used by those people in painting their 
bodies. This Indian had also a small basket, in 
which was contained a string of glass beads and 
two small pieces of Portuguese money, from which 
it appeared that he was bound from St. Salvador 
to Fernanda, with the strange news of the admiral's 
arrival ; but, the voyage being long, he was weary 
with paddling, and desired to be taken on board. 
Columbus treated him courteously, gave him bread 
and honey to eat, made him drink wine, and on 
setting him on shore gave him some toys, in order 
that, by his favourable report, he might prepossess 
the natives of Fernanda in favour of the Spaniards. 
The success answered the admiral's expectation ; 
for the islanders, on hearing the favourable ac- 
count given by the Indian, came in their canoes to 
barter with the same sort of commodities which 
were found at St. Salvador ; but they appeared 
to have more sagacity, and made more advanta- 
geous bargains. The women wore a kind of cotton 
cloth round their waists. Their houses were built 
like tents, but had scarcely any furniture ; and the 
beds in which they lay were formed of a kind of 



TVESTERX TTORLD. 17 

not that hung from two posts. Here were some 
trees that seemed to have been grafted, by their 
bearing leaves or branches of four or five different 
kinds. There were plenty of fish of various shapes 
and colours, some lizards, snakes, and dogs that 
could not bark. 

ColumbuG, finding nothing valuable in this 
island, sailed on the 19th of October to another, ta 
which he gave the name of Isabella, in honour of 
her Catholic majesty.. This island far exceeded 
the others in beauty and extent. It abounded 
with rivers, pleasant meadows and groves, and the- 
prospect was diversified with hills, which the rest 
wanted : the ear was delighted with the songs of 
birds, which not only hopped from bough to bough, 
but even flew in such flocks as darkened the ain. 
Near one of the lakes, the Spaniards killed with 
their spears an alligator seven- feet longj which^, 
though at first they beheld with horror, they after- 
wards skinned and eat, this animal being esteemed 
by the Indians most delicious food. 

Columbus was no- sooner acquainted with the 
produce af Isabella, and the manners of its inhabi- 
tants, than he set sail with a fair wind for a large 
country to the south, which was extolled by the- 
Indians under the name of Cuba, and arrived there 
on the 28th of October. It exhibited a pleasing 
variety of hills and dales, woods^ and' plains, and 
from the extent of its coast, and the vastness of its 
rivers, appeared to be of great consequence. 

To obtain some intelligence of the natives, the 
admiral cast anchor in a broad river^ the banks of 

c 



18 DISCOYEEIES IN THE 

whicli were shaded bv thick aud tall trees, tliat were 
at the same time adorned with l^lossoms and fruit 
entirely unknown in Europe. Soon after landing, 
they entered two houses deserted by tlie natives^ 
who, being terrified at the appearance of the ships, 
had fled ; upon which the Spaniards re-embarked 
without touching any of their effects, and continued 
their course westward till they arrived at the mouth 
of another river: and this, being larger than the 
other, Columbus sailed a considerable way up it. 
The banks were all along inhabited; but her€ also 
the natives fled, with all the goods they could carry, 
to the mountains, which were of considerable height, 
and covered with lofty trees. 

Columbus being sensible that, if the iuhabrtacts 
should thus continue to avoid him. he could never 
be able to leaiii the natui^e of the island, and bein--*- 
afraid of increasino; their terror bv landing: a 
number of men, ordered two Spaniards, attended 
by an Indian of St. Salvador and another of Cuba, 
who had boldly ventured to come aboard with his 
canoe, to travel up into the country, and endea- 
vour by their obliging behaviour to remove the 
terror of the people. In the mean time he directed 
his ship to be careened, when he oliserved that the 
only fuel of the country was mastic wood, which 
grew there in great plenty. 

On the 5th of November the two Spaniards 
returned, accompanied by an Indian king and his 
son, and informed the admiral that they had 
travelled twelve leagues into the country, where 
they found a town consisting of fifry wooden 



WESTERN WOKLD. 19 

houses covered with straw, which contained about 
one thousand people ; that they were met by the 
principal persons of the place, who took them by 
the arms and led them to the town, where they 
were allowed a spacious lodging, in which they 
were seated upon wooden benches in the form of 
some strange animals, with their tails lifted up for 
them to lean upon, and their eyes and ears of gold. 
The Spaniards being seated on these benches, the 
Indians sat around them on the ground, and came 
one by one to kiss the hands and feet of the 
strangers, imagining they had come from heaven ; 
at the same time they treated them with boiled 
roots, which in their taste resembled chestnuts. 
After the men had thus fulfilled the rites of hospi- 
tality, they retired to make room for the women, 
who also kissed their hands and feet, and enter- 
tained them with their homely fare. This favour- 
able reception they owed to their two Indian 
attendants, who represented the Spaniards as a 
humane and generous people. 

On setting out to return to the ship, a great 
number of the natives proposed to accompany them;, 
this offer they declined, and would accept of none 
but the cacique or king and his son, under whose 
protection they were entertained with great respect 
at several petty towns, meeting many of the in- 
habitants, who always carried lighted brands to 
kindle the fires with which they roasted the roots 
that constituted their principal food. In return 
for these civilities, the two princes were treated by* 
the admiral with great kindness and respect. 



20- DISCOVERIES IX THE 

In tills excursion they saw a variety of birds, 
among which were partridges and niglitingales; 
but no quadrupeds^ except some dogs which could 
not bark. A great part of the land was cultivated, 
and produced^ besides the bread-fruit, maize or 
Indian corn, of which the natives made a very well- 
tastad flour. Their principal manufacture was 
cotton, v/hich they gathered from trees that grew 
without the least .care or culture,, and of this they 
made vast quantities of well-spun yarn ; but they 
had no other use for it than to form hammocks and 
snort aprons for. the women. The Indians after- 
wards carried great quantities of this cotton on 
board the ships, where they .willingly exchanged 
a basketful of it for a thong of leather. They 
had.no gold, pearl, or spices, but pointed towards 
the east, where they intimated that there was a 
country plentifully stored with them. 

In consequence of the above information, Co- 
lumbus resolved to sail to the place which the 
Indians called Bohio ;. but, before he left Cuba, he 
seized twelve Indians whom he- intended to carry 
into Spain. This seizure was made with so little 
disturbance, that the husband of one of the women 
he had taken came to the ship in his canoe, and 
begged that he might be allowed to accompany his 
wife and children. Such, an instance of affection 
gave great pleasure to the admiral,, who instantly 
granted the request, and gave orders that they 
should be kindly treated. 

Gn the 19th of November, Columbus, who had 
before endeavoured- .to leave the island,, but was 



WESTERN WORLD. 21 

driven back, steered eastward for the island of 
Bohio ; but the wind being still contrary, he was 
obliged to ply two or three days between the islands 
of Cuba and Isabella. In this interval Martin 
Alonzo Pinzon, who had been informed by some 
Indians whom he had concealed in his ship, that 
Bohio abounded in gold, took, advantage of the 
swiftness of his vessel, and left Columbus in the 
night, in order to anticipate- his success, and 
engross the treasure of that -wealthy island to him° 
self. 

Being thus abandoned by one of his consorts, 
and the weather growing so rough as to render it 
dangerous for him to keep the sea, Columbus 
returned to another harbour in Cuba, to which he 
gave the name of St. Catherine's. While the 
crews were here employed in taking in wood and 
water, he accidentally discovered signs of gold on 
some stones in the river, and up in the country 
saw mountains covered with tall pines sufficient to 
furnish masts for the largest ships, and plenty of 
oak fit for planks. In his run along the coast for 
ten or twelve leagues to the south-east, he dis- 
covered many large rivers and excellent harbours, 
and was so delighted with the beautiful appearance 
of the country, that he was even tempted to fix his 
habitation there for life. Sailing up one of the 
rivers, he saw a canoe drawn upon land as large as 
a twelve-oared barge^ and afterwards in the water 
another canoe, which, though formed of the trunk 
of a single tree, was seventy feet long; and capable 
of containing fifty men. 



22 DiscoYEPjES i:n' the 

Having coasted the island for one hundred and 
six leagues, he set sail again for Bohio, which, though 
it was but sixteen leagues' distance, he was pre- 
vented by the currents from reaching till the next 
day, when he anchored in a port to which he gave 
the nanae of St. Nicholas, from it being the festival 
of that saint. Here he found that the harbour 
was large, deep, very safe, and encompassed with a 
great number of tall trees, which however were not 
in general so large as those of Cuba ; but not being 
able to obtain any intercourse with the inhabitants, 
who fled a,t his approach, he coasted the island to 
the northward, till he arrived at a port which he 
called the Conception, when observing that the 
country was very extensive, and in many respects 
resembled Spain both in the trees, plants, and 
fishes, he gave it the name of Hispaniola. He 
here saw a number of the natives, who fled with 
great precipitation. The sailors having captured 
a young woman who had a plate of gold hanging 
at her nose, she was conducted to the admiral^ who 
l^resenting her with several trifles, such as small 
bells and glass toys, civilly dismissed her to the 
town where she dwelt, sending with her three 
Spaniards and the same number of Indians. 

The next day, eleven men well armed went on 
shore and travelled four leagues up the country, 
where they found a town which consisted of one 
thousand houses ; and though the inhabitants, as 
usual, fled at their approach, they soon returned, 
at the persuasion of a St. Salvador Indian, who 
followed them, and removed their fears by the 



\7ESTEKX ^ORLB. 23 

fovourable account he gave of the Spaniards, on 
whom they gazed with equal astonishment and 
awe: they even brought them food, and pressed 
them to stay in the town all night. The Spaniards, 
however, declined accepting this invitation, and 
returning to their ships, told the admiral that 
the country was fertile and pleasant, and the 
people whiter and more handsome than those they 
had hitherto seen ; that they were courteous and 
tractable, and had informed them that gold was 
to be found farther to the eastward. 

At this news Columbus immediately set sail, and 
between Hispaniola and a small island on the north 
coast, called afterwards Tortuga, took up, in a very 
rough sea, an Indian who was struggling v/ith the 
waves in a little canoe, and, having given him some 
presents of small value, set him safe ashore on 
the coast of Hispaniola. This man, informing his 
countrymen of the manner in which he had been 
treated, induced them to come on board ; but they 
brought nothing with them of consequence, except 
some small grains of gold that hung at their ears 
and nostrils, of which they shewed by signs that 
there was a great quantity higher up in the 
country. 

While the Spaniards were on shore the next day, 
bartering with the cacique or sovereign of that 
district for a plate of gold, forty men in a canoe 
approached from the island of Tortuga, when the 
cacique perceiving them, sat down with his people 
on the strand, as a signal that they should not 
commit hostihties, but notwithstanding they 



24 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

landed ; upon this h^ arose, and by his threats 
obliged them to re-embark, and then giving a stone 
to one of the Spanish officers, made a sign for 
him to throw it at the Tortngans, to show that he 
would espouse the cause of these strangers against 
the Indians of the canoe, and on seeing this they 
returned to the island. 

On the 18th of December the same cacique 
came to pay the admiral a visit, carried in state 
on a palanquin and attended by two hundred men, 
both he and they being entirely naked. He made 
no difficulty of going on board Columbus's ship, 
and, the admiral being at dinner, he entered the 
cabin without ceremony, attended by two old men 
who seemed to be his counsellors, and sat down at 
his feet. Columbus received him with great civility 
and respect, and had provisions and wine set befoi^ 
him, which on tasting he sent to some of his men 
who remained upon deck. After dinner, during 
which both he and the two old men spoke but 
little, he presented the admiral with two thin 
pieces of gold and a wrought girdle ; in return for 
these he received a string of amber beads, which 
the admiral took from his own neck, a pair of 
red shoes, a counterpane, and a bottle of orange- 
flower water, at which this prince and his two 
attendants were so delighted that they signified to 
Columbus that the whole island was at his dis- 
posal. The admiral then shewed him the effigies of 
Ferdinand and Isabella impressed on a gold medal, 
which he viewed with admiration, and indeed 
shewed signs of astonishment at every thing he 



WESTEPwN WORLD. 25 

saw. In the evening he was, at his own desire, 
sent ashore in the ship's boat, and saluted with a 
discharge of several guns, the noise whereof filled 
him with amazement and terror ; so satisfied was 
he with his reception, that he ordered his people 
to entertain the Spaniards who conducted him to 
land, and returned home with the admiral's pre- 
sents carried with great pomp and ostentation 
before him. 

On the 24th December Columbus weighed anchor, 
and sailed to a promontory, afterwards called Punta 
Santa, where the weather being calm, he anchored 
about a league from shore and retired to rest, 
which he had not enjoyed for two days before ; hi? 
example was followed by the crew, who, contrary 
to his repeated orders, had the folly to leave only a 
boy at the helm. This instance of neglect proved 
fatal ; for about midnight the vessel was carried 
upon a ridge of rocks, before any on board were 
aware of the danger. The admiral being the first 
who was awakened by the cries of the boy at the 
helm, ran upon deck, and perceiving the rocks, 
ordered the master and three sailors to leap into 
the boat and carry out an anchor astern ; but, 
instead of obeying his directions, they row^ed to 
the other ship in order to preserve their own lives. 
Upon this he immediately caused the vessel to be 
lightened, and the masts to be cut away ; but all 
his' endeavours were ineffectual, and the water 
ebbing, the seams of the ship opened. While they 
were in this emergency the boat returned, t!i'^ 
other ship refusing to receive the men who ha ' 



25 DISCOYEEIES IX THE 

deseiied their duty. The admiral then, seeing no 
hope of saving his own vessel, took the boat, and 
going with his men on board the other, the next 
morning despatched messengers to inform the 
cacique of this disaster, and to desire the assist- 
ance of the natives in unlading the ship. The 
caciquCj wlio condoled at their misfortunes with 
tears in his eyes, immediately ordered his people 
to repair to the wreck in their canoes, and to obey 
Columbus's directions ; by their assistance all the 
valuable effects were carried on shore, and deposited 
in houses appointed for the purpose. 

On the 25th of December this friendly cacique, 
Rdiose name was Guacanagari, paid another visit 
to the admiral, whose loss he lamented with many 
expressions of sorrow ; made him several presents, 
and, perceiving how fond the Spaniards were of 
gold, promised to send for a great quantity of that 
metal from a place called Cebao. Meanwhile a 
canoe with Indians from another island brought 
plates of gold to exchange for bells, on which they 
set a very great value ; and the seamen on shore 
traded with the natives of Hispaniola, who came 
from the inland part of the country, and received 
gold in barter for points and other trifles. Among 
the rest, an Indian came to the shore with a piece 
of gold that weighed four ounces, and, holding it in 
one hand, stretched out the other, and a hawk's 
bell being put into it, he let go the gold and ran 
away, thinking he had cheated the Spaniard. 

Columbus was greatly pleased both with this 
islauJi and the manners of its inhabitants, and re- 



WESTERN WOULD. 27 



solved to settle a colony upon it, b=eiDg encouraged 
to take this step by many of his men voluntarily 
offering to settle there. \Yhile the cacique Guaca- 
nagari, instead of being disposed to take umbrage 
at their neighbourhood, considered them as valuable 
allies, who would protect them from an invasion of 
the Caribbee Indians: and, in order to shew the 
importance of his friendship, Columbus gave orders 
in the presence of this prince for firing a great 
gun at the wreck, through which the ball penetra- 
ted, and fell into the water on the opposite side, to 
tlie great astonishment of the Indians, who believed 
that their guests knew how to dart the thunder of 
heaven, and therefore earnestly implored their pro- 
tection. In compliance with the request made 
to him by Guacanagarij Columbus ordered a fort 
to be built of the timber of the wreck, and having 
furnished it with provisions, ammunition, small 
arms and cannon, manned it with a garrison of 
thirty-six men, under the command of Eoderick 
d'Escovedo, Peter Gutieres, and James d'Arana, 
whom he warmly recommended to the favour and 
good offices of the friendly cacique and his people. 
Having thus provided the fort with all necessaries, 
he caused a few houses to be built, named the place 
the town of the Nativity, and resolved to return 
immediately to Castile, lest some misfortune 
happening to the only ship he had now under his 
command, he should be for ever disabled from let- 
ting their Catholic majesties know the important 
discoveries he had already made, and the countries 
he had annexed to their dominions. 



28 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

When every thing was ready for his departui'O, 
he called together those who chose to be left upon 
the island, and addressing himself to thenij desired 
them to return thanks to God for having carried 
them to such a country to plant his holy faith : he 
exhorted them not to forsake Him their Almighty 
friend, but by living like good Christians to ensure 
his protection ; to love and obey their captain ; to 
respect Guacanagari^ and to give no offence to any 
of his people ; and, that the opinion of their coming 
from heaven might be confirmed, he told them they 
should offer no violence to any of the natives, ob- 
serving that it would be for their interest to barter 
with them fairly without covetousness ; to endea- 
vour to learn their language, which would be of 
great use, and to gain their friendship, which would 
render them happy and secure. In return for 
which he promised to intreat their majesties to re- 
ward them for opening the way to that new world. 

He himself set sail from the port of Nativity oa 
the 4tli of January, taking such notice of the land as 
would enable him to discover the mouth of the har- 
bour in any future expedition^ and, sailing by a 
high mountain, gave it the name of Monte Christo ; 
but the wind being contrary, he made but little 
way, when two days after he fell in with the Pinta, 
under the command of Marnn Alonzo Pinzon, who, 
going on board, strove to excuse his desertion by 
pretending he had lost sight of the admiral in the 
night, and by alleging other frivolous excuses ; 
but, though Columbus plainly saw the fallacy of all 
these pretences, he disguised his sentiments rather 



TVESTEEN WORLD. 29 

tlian run anyriskof prejudicing the common cause, 
by giving rise to a dangerous dissension. 

Pinzon had sailed to a river fifteen leagues to 
the east of the- port of Nativity, where he had spent 
sixteen days in bartering with the natives for gold, 
of which he had procured a considerable quantity ; 
one half whereof he distributed amongst his crew 
in order to obtain popularity, and to gain their con- 
sent to keep the remainder for his own use. He 
afterwards anchored near Monte Christo, the wind 
not permitting him to proceed farther, and thence 
sailed in his boat up a river to the south-west of 
the mount, where, discovering some gold dust 
among the sand,, he called it the Golden Eiver.. 

On the 13th of January^ being near the cape 
called Enamorado, Columbus sent his boat on shore, 
where there stood some Indians, with all the signs 
of consternation and great fierceness marked, on 
their countenances. They were armed with bows 
and arrows, and other weapons, and made a shew 
of opposition ; but, by the mediation of the St. 
Salvador Indian, they were brought to a kind of 
conference. One of them then ventured on board 
the admiral's ship, but appeared extremely savage 
both in his speech and countenance, which was 
smutted with charcoal. This man having answered 
several questions, partly by signs and partly by 
means of the Indian interpreter, was feasted, and 
then sent ashore with presents of glass beads and 
bits of red and green cloth, that he might persuade 
his countrymen ta bring gold in exchange for such 
trifles. 



30 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

At the place where he was set on shore there 
were fifty men with longhair, adorned with phimes 
of parrots' feathers, who, being armed with bows and 
arrowSj refused to trade with the Spaniards, not- 
withstanding the persuasions of their countrymen ; 
but, on the contrary, treated them with scorn, and 
even began to commit hostilities. The Spaniards, 
who were but seven in number, seeing them ad- 
vance with fury in their looks, met them half-way, 
and, boldly charging them, shot one with an arrow 
and wounded another with a sword, on which they 
instantly fled. Columbus was far from being dis- 
pleased at this skirmish, which he imagined would 
give them such a high opinion of the bravery of 
his men, as would prevent their making any 
attempt to the prejudice of the settlement at the 
Nativity. 

On the 16th of January, the admiral set sail with 
his two ships for Spain ; but, after having enjoyed a 
favourable gale until they were within two hundred 
and sixty-three leagues to the westward of Ferro, 
they were overtaken by such a tempest on the 14th 
of February, that, the sea running mountains high, 
they were unable to work their vessels, and were 
tossed about at the mercy of the waves. During 
this storm the two ships were separated, when the 
seamen in each, concluding that those in the other 
had perished, betook themselves to acts of devotion, 
and the admiral vowed to go a pilgrimage to our 
Lady of Guadalupe ; the storm still increasing, the 
whole crew of the admiral's ship joined in a vow to 
walk barefoot and in their shirts to some church 



WESTERN WORLB, 31 

dedicated to the blessed Virgin, in the first Chris- 
tian country on which they should land. They 
had great scarcity of provisions, and their ship, 
wanting ballast, was in danger of being upset. 
To remedy this last inconvenience, Columbus order- 
ed his casks to be filled w^ith sea-water, and that 
his discoveries might have some chance of being 
known, in case he and his men perished, he wrote a 
brief account of them upon two skins of parchment, 
w^hich he wrapped in oil-cloths covered with wax, 
and, having enclosed them in two separate casks, had 
them thrown into the sea. This must be allowed 
to have been an extraordinary instance both of his 
prudence and fortitude. 

On the loth of February, at which time the 
storm still continued, one of the sailops discovered 
land, which the pilot judged to be the rock of 
Lisbon, though the admiral imagined it to be one 
of the Azores ; and soon after they discovered other 
land, which proved to be St. Mary, one of the 
Azores, and here with great difficulty they cast 
anchor four days after. The admiral, being lame 
of both his legs in consequence of the fatigue he 
had undergone, many of the inhabitants came on 
board wdth fresh provisions and compliments from 
the governor, expressing their amazement at the 
success of the expedition, and seeming to rejoice at 
Columbus's discovery. They were also surprised 
to see that they had outlived the storm, and letting 
the sailors know that there was in that nei^^hbour- 
hood a hermitage dedicated to the blessed Virgin, 
the admiral and his crew resolved to perform their 



32 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

VOW, by walking thither barefoot. To fulfil this 
penance he sent his boat on shore with one half of 
the company, with orders to return immediately, 
that the rest might succeed them in the same kind 
of devotion ; but the first company had no sooner 
undressed themselves- and begun their procession, 
than they were attacked and made prisoners by the 
governor, who lay in, ambush with some of his 
people for that purpose. 

Columbus, having im vain waited from daybreak 
till noon for the return of the boat, began to 
suspect foul play, and, not being able to discover 
tlie hermitage, sailed round a point, by which 
means he obtained a full view of it ; when perceiving 
several Portuguese on horseback alight and enter 
his boat, as he imagined, to attack the vessel, he 
ordered: the sailors to be upon their guard. He 
hoped that the commander of these men would 
come on board, in which case he resolved to detain 
him as an hostage ; but the Portuguese not daring 
to advance beyond a certain distance, he demanded 
the^ reason of their committing such, an outrage 
upon his men, who had gone on sliore upon the 
faith of a safe-conduct. He told them that the King 
of Portugal would, certainly be offended at this act 
of hostility committed against the subjects of their 
Catholic majesties, with whom he was in alliance. 
To this the Portuguese captain answered, that 
what they had done was by the king's express 
orders, which give Columbus reason to imagine 
that thera was a breach between the two crowns ; 
and, calling all his people to bear witness to, what 



WESTERN WORLD. 33 

they had heard, he again directed his discourse to 
the Portuguese, and swore that he would never quit 
his ship till he had seized a hundred Portuguese, 
and destroyed the whole inland. 

He now returned to the port he had left ; but 
the next day, the wind increasing, he lost his 
anchors, and was obliged to stand out to sea 
towards the island of St. Michael, though not 
without being exposed to great danger from his 
having only three able seamen on board, the rest 
being landsmen, Indians, and boys. The weather 
being mild, the next day he endeavoured to recover 
the island of St. Mary, which he reached on the 
21st, and soon after his arrival, a boat was sent to 
him with five men and a notary, who, in the 
governor's name, desired to know whence the ship 
came, and whether he had really the King of 
Spain's commission. Being satisfied in these 
particulars, they returned and caused the Spaniards 
to be released. The King of Portugal had 
sent orders to all his governors to secure the 
admiral's person ; but as this scheme did not 
succeed, on account of Columbus's staying on 
board, it was thought proper to dismiss the pri- 
soners. The admiral, having recovered his men, 
departed from the island of St. Mary on the 24th 
of February, with a very favourable wind ; on the 
3rd of March he was exposed to another tempest, 
during which his sails were split, and he narrowly 
escaped being wrecked on the rock of Lisbon, 
which they accidentally discovered at midnight; 
bat, having weathered it with great diflficulty, he was 



84 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

the next day obliged to come to an anchor in the 
liver Tagus. He immediately sent an express by 

land to their Catholic majesties with the news of 
his arrival^ and another to the King" of Portugal, 
to desire leave to cast anchor before the city, 
as he did not think himself safe in his present 
station. 

On the 5th of March, the master of a guard-ship, 
with a boat filled with armed men, came up to 
Columbus, and ordered him to give an account 
of himself to the king s officers, as was customary 
with all the vessels that entered the river. To 
this Columbus replied, that he wa^ the King of 
Spain's admiral, and would not degrade himself so 
far as to send the most inconsiderable person on 
board his ship on such an errand. The Portuguese, 
finding him resolute, desired to see the king's letter, 
which being complied vdth, they returned to their 
ship, and made a proper report to Alvaro de 
Acunha, who soon after came on board Columbus's 
ship, attended by fifes, drums, and trumpets, and 
congratulated him on his return with many ex- 
pressions of friendship. The nature of Columbus's 
voyage was no sooner known at Lisbon than the 
people were filled with the utmost curiosity to see 
the Indians, and to learn the particulars of his 
amazing discovery ; the wdiole river was seen 
covered with boats filled with people, some of 
whom praised God for Columbus's success, while 
others lamented the hard fate of their nation, 
which had lost such a prize through the incredulity 
or avarice of their kin^c. 



WESTEEN WORLD. 35 

His majesty having received the admirars letter, 
gave orders for his being presented with, all kinds 
of refreshments and necessaries gratis, and at the 
same time wrote to congratulate him upon his 
happy return, and to let him know that he desired 
to see him before he left his dominions. Columbus 
at first doubted whether he ought to accept this 
invitation ; but considering that Spain and Portu- 
gal were at peace, and that he had been ah-eady 
treated by the king with uncommon respect, he 
resolved to wait on his Portuguese majesty, who 
then resided at Valparaiso^ a place nine leagues 
from Lisbon. For this purpose he set out on Satur- 
day the 9th of March, when the king ordered his 
whole court to go out and meet him, and, Columbus 
being conducted into the royal presence^ his 
majesty insisted on his putting on his cap, and 
being seated in his presence. With seeming plea- 
sure he heard the particulars of the voyage, and 
oifered to supply him with every thing he desired ; 
and observed that, as Columbus was before in his 
service, the conquest of right belonged to him ; 
but the admiral modestly gave his reasons for 
being of a contrary opinion ; to which the king 
replied, that '* it was very well, and he did not 
doubt but that justice would be done." 

Having stayed all Sunday and part of Monday, 
Columbus took his leave, after his majesty had in 
vain attempted, by very considerable offers, to re- 
engage him in his service. On his return, he was 
attended by many persons of rank, and passing by 
a monastery in which the queen was residing, her 



36 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

majesty desired to see him, and received his visit 
in a respectful manner. The same night a gentle- 
man arrived from the king to inform him, that if 
he chose to go to Castile by land, he would accom- 
pany him, and provid-e him with accommodations 
on the road, as far as the frontiers of Portugal. 
This offer he declined with suitable acknowledg- 
ments, and, setting sail on Wednesday the 13th of 
March, arrived on the Friday following at Saltes^ 
and came to anchor in the port of Palos, whence 
he had departed on the 3rd of August in the pre- 
ceding year. 

Columbus was received on his landing by all 
the people in procession, who gave thanks to God 
for his success, which it was hoped would greatlj^ 
redound to the spreading of Christianity, and the 
advantage of their Catholic majesties. Pinzon 
had already arrived in Galicia, and had resolved 
to carry in person ihe agreeable news of the dis- 
covery to court, when he received orders -which 
forbad his coming wdthout the admiral, under 
whose command he had been sent on the expedi- 
tion. This mortifying disappointment made such 
an impression upon him, that he immediately fell 
sick, and, returning to the place of his birth, in a 
few days after died of grief and vexation. 

In the mean time Columbus set out for Seville, 
on his way to Barcelona, where their majesties 
then resided ; the roads w^ere crowded with people 
of all ranks, who flocked to see him and the Indians 
in his train. He arrived at Barcelona about the 
middle of April, and was received by the whole 



WESTERN WORLD. 37 

court and city in the most solemn manner. The 
streets could not contain the multitudes that 
pressed to see him, and the Indians and curiosities 
he brought, which were carried uncovered. Their 
majesties, to do him honour, ordered the royal 
throne to be placed in public, on which they seated 
themselves with Prince John under a canopy of 
cloth of gold. The admiral was introduced by 
several gentlemen, and, on approaching the throne, 
the king rose up and gave him his hand to kiss, 
when, Columbus kneeling, his majesty desired him 
to rise, ordered a chair to be brought him, and 
made him sit by his side. Columbus then gave 
an account of his voyage, his discoveries, and his 
hopes of finding still more extensive and important 
countries ; shewed them the Indians as they ap- 
peared in their native countries, and gave them a 
specimen of every thing he had brought from the 
new world. When he had done speaking, their 
majesties rose, and* kneeling down with their hands 
lifted up, and with tears in their eyes, returned 
thanks to God, which was immediately followed by 
the choristers of the chapel singing the Te Deum, 

In short, Columbus was treated as a grandee of 
the first rank who had performed the most impor- 
tant services for his country, and when the king 
rode about Barcelona, he would have him con- 
stantly by his side ; an honour which had been 
conferred upon none but princes of the blood. 
He was also gratified with new patents, which 
confirmed and enlarged the privileges he had be- 
fore obtained. The more his discoveries were can- 



38 DISCOYEBIES IN THE 

vassed by the council, the more important they ap- 
peared ; and therefore Ferdinand and Isabella not 
only agreed that he should continue them, but de- 
spatched an ambassador to Pope Alexander VL to 
desire him to exert his apostolic authority in their 
favour, and to grant them an exclusive title to the 
countries that had been, or should be, discovered. 
The Pope complied with this request, and drawing 
a line from pole to pole, at the distance of one 
hundred leagues westward from the Azores, or 
from the Cape de Verd islands, bestowed on their 
Catholic majesties the dominions of all the 
sovereigns and states in that extensive part of the 
globCo 



WESTERN WOELD. 39 



CHAPTER II. 

Columbus's second Yoyage — He sails with a more numerous 
fleet, arrives at the Caribbee islands, and discovers Dominica, 
Marigalante, and Guadalupe — Endeavours in vain to trade 
with the natives — Proceeds to several other islands, Mont- 
serrat and St. John's — Returns to Hispaniola, finds the colony 
ruined, and the Spaniards destroyed by their own folly; re- 
stores things to a good situation ; quells a mutiny — Sets sail 
upon other discoveries ; lands at Jamaica ; meets with a mul- 
titude of islands, to which he gives the name of the Queen's 
Garden — Steers along the coast of Cuba — Many difficulties — 
Returns to Hispaniola, where he again finds every thing in 
great confusion — New regulations for the security of the 
settlement — Sails for Spain. 

Such active measures were taken for Columbus's 
second expedition, that in a short time seventeen 
vessels were fitted out for farther discoveries, and 
the settlement of colonies. The thirst of gold, and 
the success of the first voyage, drew together such 
a multitude of volunteers that a great number 
were rejected, the admiral resolving to take no 
more than fifteen hundred persons, amongst whom 
v:ere many artificers and labourers. 

Having provided all kinds of utensils, and a 
large stock of the trifles most agreeable to the 
Indians, and having taken on board cows, horses, 
asseS; and other animals for breeding in the new 



40 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

plantations, with the seeds of plants, trees, and 
all kinds of grain, &C.5 Columbus sailed from the 
roads of Cadiz on the 25th of September, 1493, and 
stood south-west for the Canary islands. He 
arrived at the Grand Canaries on the 2nd of Octo- 
ber, and on the 5th anchored at Gomera, where he 
took in water, wood, and cattle, and eight sows, 
from which were produced all the swine now in 
the West Indies.* 

On the 7th he continued his voyage for the 
Indies, after having delivered his orders sealed up, 
wdiich were not to be opened unless the fleet should 
be separated by stress of weather. They now ran 
four hundred leagues west of the Canaries without 
meeting with any of those weeds which they had 
seen in their first voyage. 

On the 2nd of November, Cohimbus perceiving 
a great alteration in the winds, there being at the 
time a violent shower of rain, concluded that he was 
near land^ and the next moniing observed, about 
seven leagues to the westward, a high mountainous 
island wdiich he named Dominica, from its being 
discovered on a Sunday. Three other islands were 
discovered much about the same time, when the 
people, assembling on the poop, returned thanks to 
God for their wonderful success, in having sailed 
near eight hundred leagues in the space of twenty 
days. The admiral, finding no convenient place 
for anchoring on the east side of Dominica, stood 

* They received the name of ^Yest Indies, from Columbns 
sailing to them by the west, and expecting to find the spices at 
that time brought from the east by the way of the Red Sea. 



WESTEEN WORLD. 41 

over to another island whicli he called Marigalante, 
after his own ship, and having landed, he with the 
nsual solemnity took possession of it for their 
Catholic majesties, as he had before done with re- 
spect to all the other islands he had discovered. 

On the 4th of Novembe-r, he sailed to another 
considerable island, which he named St. Mary of 
Guadalupe,* in consequence of a promise he had 
made to the friars beloDging to a convent of that 
name. He there, at two leagues' distance, perceived 
a very high rock which terminated in a point, 
whence gushed a large torrent of water, which fell 
with a prodigious noise. Here he landed some 
meuj who went to a town, which at their approach 
was abandoned by all the inhabitants except some 
of the children, to whose arms the Spaniards tied 
a few baubles as a mark of friendship. They hei^ 
found geese like those of Europe, a great number 
of large parrots and other birds, pompions, ananas, 
or pine-apples, of exquisite taste and flavour : they 
also found bows and arrows, cotton, and several 
other things^ which they left behind them in order 
to give the owners a good opinion of them. 

The next day the admiral sent two boats on 
shore, with orders, if possible, to take a few of the 
natives, from whom he might obtain some impor- 
tant information ; the boats returned with two 
young men, who by their signs let him know 
that they were born in another island, and were 
taken prisoners by those of Guadalupe, who were 
called Caribbees. The boats again going on shore 

* This is one of the largest of the Caribbee Islands. 



42 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

for some of the men they had left, found six vromen 
who had fled to them, and desired to be carried on 
board ; which being done, the admiral gave them 
bells and beads, and then dismissed them, though 
by their signs they shewed an ardent desire 
to stay ; but they were no sooner landed than the 
Caribbees robbed them of their ornaments in the 
very sight of the Spaniards. The next time the 
boat's crew landed, these poor creatures leaped into 
the boat, and by the most expressive gestures im- 
plored protection from the cruelty of the islanders, 
who, they signified, had kept their husbands in 
slavery. This information occasioned their being 
brought to the admiral, whom they gave to under- 
stand that, towards the souths there were many 
islands, and a large continent. Columbus would 
have immediately left Guadalupe, had he not been 
informed that the captain of one of the ships had, 
without his permission, landed with eight men 
before it was light, and had not yet returned : he 
therefore sent several of his people on shore with 
trumpets and muskets, the noise of which might 
be heard through the woods ; and, this search prov- 
ing fruitless, he sent another detachment of forty 
men, commanded by a captain, with orders to 
proceed through the country, and make observa- 
tions on its productions. They found abundance 
of cotton, some trees which in taste and smell 
resembled cinnamon, and also frankincense, gin- 
ger, Sanders, aloes, and mastic. They likewise 
saw nightingales, daws, partridges, geese, herons, 
'^ites; and falcons. While they were thus em- 



IVESTEEX WOELD. 43 

ployed, the stragglers returned of tbeir own 
accord, when Columbus ordered the captain to 
be put in irons, and punished the rest by shorten- 
ing their allowance of provisions. The admiral 
himself then landing, found great quantities of 
cotton, spun and unspiin, with many human sknlls 
and bones hung up in baskets ; and observed that 
the natives were better accommodated with lodging, 
provisions, and other necessaries, than those of the 
other islands he had before discovered. 

On the 10th of November he weighed anchor, 
and, saiUng with his whole fleet towards the north- 
west in search of Hispaniola, passed an island, to 
which, on account of its height, he gave the name 
of Montserrat ; * and having passed by St. Mary 
Eedonda, and St Maria la Antiqua.f he discovered 
several other islands, near one of which he cast 
anchor, and called it St. Martin. His people here 
seized four men and three children ; but, as the 
boat was putting off with them from shore, they 
met with a canoe in which were four men and 
one woman, who, finding it impossible for them to 
escape, put themselves in a posture of defence, 
when the woman shot an arrow with such force 
and dexterity, that it passed through a strong 
target; but the Spaniards, endeavouring to board 
them, upset the canoe, on which the Indians 
betook themselves to swimming, and one of them 

* This island is one of the smaUest of the Caribbees. 

f Now called Antigua. This island is twenty miles long and 
near as many broad. Its chief produce is sugar: but as it has 
the misfortune to have no brooks or rivers, the inhabitants save 
the rain water in cisterns and reservoirs. 



44 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

used his bow and arrow in the water with the 
same dexterity as if he had been on dry land. 

The admiral, again setting sail, continued his 
course west-north-west, leaving to the northward 
above fifty islands, the largest of which he called 
St. Ursula, and the others the Eleven Thousand 
Virgins. He then came to an island to which he 
gave the name of St. John Baptist, and, having 
anchored in a bay on the west side of it, his men 
caught several kinds offish, as skate, soles, pilchards, 
and shads, and also saw falcons, and some shrubs 
resembling wild vines. Some of the men after- 
wards landed, when they perceived several houses 
with a square in their front, from which was a 
spacious road down to the sea, flanked on both 
sides with towers made of cane, the tops of which 
were curiously interwoven with evergreens, and at 
the end of the road next the sea, was raised a lofty 
gallery or balcony capable of containing ten or 
twelve persons. 

On the 21st, the admiral arrived in the bay of 
Samana, on the north side of flispaniola. and im- 
mediately sent on shore one of the Indians, a 
native of that part of the country, whom he had 
carried into Spain, and who, being converted to the 
Christian faith, undertook for the submission of all 
his countrymen. 

Continuing his voyage to the town of the Nati- 
vity, he was visited at Cape Angel by some 
Indians, who came on board to barter their com- 
modities for those of the Christians ; and, coming 
t J an anchor in the port of Monte Christo, some of 



WESTERN WOELD. 45 

his people \yere sent on sliore in a boat, when, to 
their great surprise, they saw at a small distance 
the bodies of two men with a rope about their 
necks made of a kind of broom, and their arms 
extended upon a piece of wood in the form of a 
cross; but, though they could not discern whether 
they were Europeans or Indians, they considered 
this as an ill omen. 

The next day, which was the 26th5 the admiral 
sent several persons on shore in different places, 
when many of the Indians went to them with great 
confidence and every appearance of friendship, and 
pronounced several Spanish words they had learned 
from the settlers. This eased the admiral of the 
apprehensions he had begun to conceive, judging 
that they would not have behaved with such 
freedom and unconcern had they been conscious 
of having injured the men he had left behind 
him. But the next day put an end to his doubts, 
for, on anchoring near the town of the Ivativity, 
some Indians in a canoe came to the fleet inquiring 
for the admiral, but refused to come on board till 
they saw him. From them he learned that some o f 
the Christians left there, died of distempers, and 
the rest were separated and gone to other countries. 
Though Columbus suspected foul play, for the 
present he concealed his suspicions, and the same 
evening dismissed the messengers with a present of 
baubles made of tin, and other trifles, for the cacique 
Guacanagari and themselves. 

The next morning Columbus landed, when, to 
his great concern, he saw nothing but ruin and 



46 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

desolation ; the houses and forts were burnt, and 
nothing left beloDging to the Christians but a few 
ragged clothes, and things of no value. As he 
had desired the Spaniards, at his leaving them, 
if any thing happened, to throw the gold into a 
well he had made in the fort, he ordered that well 
to be cleansed; but no gold was to be found there: 
he soon after found the bodies of eleven Spaniards, 
who seemed to have been dead about a month. 
However, while he was ruminating on this event 
with a mind filled with resentment and sorrow, he 
was visited by the cacique, Guacanagari's brother, 
who came attended by some Indians, who had 
learned to talk a little Spanish, and by them he 
Vv^as informed that he had scarce set sail when 
those he had left behind began to quarrel amongst 
themselves, every man endeavouring to amass all 
the gold he could obtain, and to take as many 
wives from the natives as his unbounded appetite 
demanded. That Escovedo and Peter Gutieres, 
having killed one of the men named James, had, 
with nine others, retired with th^ir women to 
Oaunabo, a cacique who Avas lord of the mines, and 
who put them all to death; after which that 
cacique came, attended by a great number of men, 
to destroy the town, when there were only James 
de Arana and ten of his men, who had remained 
with him to guard the fort, the rest having dis- 
persed themselves about the island. Caunabo, who 
came upon him in the night, instantly set fire to 
the houses where these eleven Spaniards lived 
with the women ; on which they fled into the sea, 



WESTERN WORLD. 47 

where eight of them perished, and the other three 
were slain on shore, while Guacanagari endeavoured 
to revenge the Spaniards, by making war on 
Caunabo, but was put to flight after having 
received a dangerous wound^ which confined him 
to his housC; and prevented his waiting on the 
admiral. 

This account perfectly agreed with the intel- 
ligence received from some Spaniards who had 
been sent up the country, and had visited at his 
own house the Vv'Ounded cacique, who greatly 
desired to see Columbus. The next day the 
admiral paid him a visit, and was received with 
the utmost cordiality and concern for what had 
happened. Guacanagari repeated the melancholy 
story, with all the marks of unfeigned sorrow, and 
at the same time shewed his own wound, and those 
of his men, which they had received in defence of 
the Christians, and which plainly appeared to have 
been made with wooden swords and arrows pointed 
with fish bones, and not v/ith any European 
weapons, The compliments of condolence being 
passed, the cacique presented the admiral with 
eight strings of small beads, composed of red, green, 
and white stones, a string of gold beads, a crown 
of the same metal, and three small calabashes full 
of gold dust, which weighed . about thirty-two 
ounces. In return for these valuable presents, the 
admiral gave him a variety of baubles, which 
might be worth about three reals, or twenty-pence. 
Though the cacique was extremely ill, he insisted 
on attendino; his guest to the fleet, where he was 



48 DISCOYEEIES LN" THE 

courteously entertained, and much pleased at the 

sight of the horses, of which the Spaniards had 
before given him an account. This cacique was 
afterwards instructed in the mysteries of the 
Christian religion, which lie was at first unwilling 
to embrace. 

Columbus, being disgusted at a spot which had 
been the scene of so many disasters, and knowing 
that there were better and more commodious places 
in the island for a settlement, sailed on the 7th of 
December with the whole fleet to the eastward, 
and cast anchor before an Indian town, where he 
resolved to plant a colony. With this view the 
people designed for settlers were landed, with pro- 
visions and proper utensils, in a plain where he 
built a town, to which he gave the name of Isabella, 
in honour of the Cj_ueen. It was conveniently 
situated near a rock where a fort might be erected ; 
the harbour was spacious, and at the distance of a 
bowshot ran an excellent river, from whence 
canals might be easily cut through the midst of 
the place, and beyond it lay an open plain, from 
which, the Indians said, the mines of Cebao were 
not far distant. 

From the 11th of December to the 12th of 
March, in the following year, 149-4, Columbus was 
employed in completing this new settlement ; and, 
having at length regulated the affairs of the towo, 
he despatched Alonzo de Hojeda, with fifteen men, 
in search of the gold mines ; and on the 2nd of 
February sent twelve of his ships back to Castile, 
v/ith a letter to their Catholic majesties, in which 



V/ESTERN WORLD. 49 

be gave a very particular account of whatever had 
happened since his arrival in the West Indies. 

Hojeda soon after returned from his expedition. 
and informed the admiral that, on the second day 
after he set out from Isabella, he lay at the pass ot 
an almost inaccessible mountain, and afterwards, at 
the distance of every league, found caciques, by 
whom he was hospitably entertained; continuing 
his journey, he arrived on the sixth day at the 
place called the mines of Cebao, where he saw the 
Indians picking up gold out of a small river, as they 
did from many others in the same province. This 
information was highly agreeable to the admiral, 
who was just recovered from a fit of sickness 
occasioned by fatigue ; and on the 12th of March, 
having caused all the ammunition belonging to 
the other ships to be put on board his own, he left 
a strong guard in the two ships and the three 
caravels, and set out from Isabella for Cebao, 
attended by all the rest of his people, some of 
whom were on horseback and others on foot. 

The admiral took this precaution of securing the 
ships, in consequence of having detected a con- 
spiracy headed by one Bernardo de Pisa, who had 
embarked from Spain in quality of comptroller to 
their Catholic majesties. This person had taken the 
opportunity of the admiral's illness to tamper with 
some of the men, who, being disappointed of the gold 
they expected to find without the least trouble, and 
dissatisfied with the regulations of the new settle- 
ments, readily joined with him in the design of 
revolting from the admiral, and seizing the ships 

E 



50 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

in order to return to Spain ; but this mutiny being 
discovered, the admiral caused the ringleader to 
be secured, until he could find an opportunity of 
sending him home to take his trial 

In order to fill the Indians with the greater awe 
and respect, Columbus made his men march in 
regular order through the villages, with trumpets 
sounding and colours flying ; and also carried 
vvith him every thing necessary for building a fort 
at Cebao. He marched along the banks of the 
river which runs by Isabella, and, crossing another 
river, encamped in a pleasant plain which extended 
to the foot of a high and craggy rock, which formed 
a pass. The next day he entered a spacious plain, 
in which he travelled five leagues, and spent the 
night near a broad river, which the men crossed on 
floats and in canoes: this, which he called the 
river of Canes, falls into the sea at Monte Christo. 
In his march he passed many Indian towns, com- 
posed of round thatched houses, the doors of 
which were so low that no person could enter 
them without stooping down. The inhabitants 
seemed to have very little notion of private pro- 
perty ; for the Indians, w^ho attended the Spaniards 
from Isabella, freely entered the houses and took 
what they liked best, without giving the least 
offence to the former possessors ; while the latter 
attempted to take what they liked from the 
Spaniards, and seemed surprised at meeting w-Ith 
a repulse. The way hitherto was agreeably 
diversified with mountains covered with wild vines, 
and fruit-trees of various sorts. 



WFSTEEN WORLD. 61 

On the 14th of March, Columbus set forwards 
from the river of Canes, and at the distance of a 
league and a half arrived at the banks of another 
river, which he named the Golden River, from 
gathering there some grains of that metal. Hav- 
ing passed it with some difficulty, he proceeded 
to a large town, where he found that many of the 
inhabitants had fled to the mountains, and the rest 
barred their doors against him with canes ; and 
having passed by another river, and several towns 
which were barricaded against him in the same 
manner, he entered the province of Cebao, w^iich, 
though rough and stony, yields plenty of grass, and 
is watered by several rivers, which abound with 
gold washed down from the mountains ; but though 
this is a very large province, it has few or no trees, 
except some pine and palm trees, which grow on . 
the banks of the rivers. 

In this country he caused a fort to be erected, in 
a very strong though pleasant situation, to com- 
mand the country about the mines, and protect the 
Spanish adventurers. This fort, w4iich was built of 
timber and clay, was of sufficient strength to with- 
stand the attack of any number of Indians ; and, 
having placed a garrison in it of sixty men, among 
whom v\^ere workmen of several sorts, to finish and 
repair the works, he set out on his return, and was 
met by considerable numbers of the natives, who 
came to sell their provisions, w^hich chiefly consisted 
of a kind of bread, and garlic. On the 29th of 
March he arrived at his new colony of Isabella, 
where he found melons already fit to eat, though 



52 DISCOYEBIES IN THE 

the seed "had not been above two months in the 
ground, and a wild vine of that country which, being 
pruned, produced large and excellent grapes ; some 
wheat, which had been sown in the latter end of 
January, already produced ears fit to gather ; 
vetches produced a ripe crop of a much larger sort 
than those they had sown, within twenty-five 
days; sugar-canes and the stones of fruit sprouted 
out in seven days ; vine branches produced leaves 
in the ■ same time, and yielded green grapes in 
twenty-five days : Columbus had, therefore, great 
reason to be pleased with the soil and climate, 
and particularly with the water, which was 
extremely pure, cool, and palatable. 

On the 1st of April, a messenger arrived at 
Isabella from the new fort, to which he had given 
the name of the Castle of St. Thomas, with advice 
that the cacique Caunabo was preparing to attack 
it. Columbus was but little concerned at this 
news, as he knew that he had nothing to appre- 
hend from the natives, who were under great 
apprehensions at the sight of his horses ; yet, as 
he intended to go to sea with three caravels, in 
order to discover the continent, he thought it 
necessary to leave every thing in tranquillity be- 
hind him, and therefore sent a reinforcement to 
the fort of seventy men, part of whom were to be 
employed in making the road more passable, and 
in searching for the fords of the rivers. In the 
mean time he completed his town, which was 
laid out in regular streets, with a convenient 
Tnarket-place ; supplied it with river water by a 



WESTERN WORLD. 53 

canal, and erected a water-mill for grinding wheat ; 
butj as his people were not accustomed to the food 
of the natives^ and provisions began to fail, he 
resolved to send the superfluous mouths to Spain. 
This step he thought himself obliged to take, from 
finding that the climate disagreed with many 
who were in a sickly and languishing condition. 
As for those who enjoyed health, and were not 
absolutely necessary in the town, they were sent 
to traverse the island, in order to observe its situa- 
tion, and accustom themselves to the Indian diet. 
These were commanded by Hojeda, who had 
orders to march to Cebao, and deliver up- the 
command of these men to Peter Margarite, who 
was to conduct them round the island, while the 
former commanded the fort of St. Thomas. 

On the 29th of April, Hojeda with his party, 
wdiich consisted of above four hundred men, left 
Isabella, and having crossed the Kiver del Oro, or 
the Grold Eiver, apprehended a cacique and his 
brother, whom he sent in irons to the admiral. 
This cacique had accommodated three Spaniards 
with five Indians to carry their clothes over a 
river, but when in the middle they turned back, 
and ran away wuth the baggage, while the cacique, 
instead of punishing them, converted what they 
had taken to his own use. Another cacique, w^ho 
dwelt beyond the river, relying on the service he 
had done the Christians, went with the prisoners 
to Isabella, to intercede in their behalf. Columbus 
entertained him very kindly, and, to heighten the 
favour he intended to grant, ordered the cacique 



54 DISCO YERIES IN TFIE 

and his brother to be put to death in the market- 
place ; at which their honest friend shed a flood 
of tears, and earnestly begged that their lives 
might be spared, whereupon the admiral instantly 
forgave them. These were no sooner released 
than a man on horseback, who had just arrived 
from fort St. Thomas, told the admiral that, in 
his way through the town belonging to the cacique 
who had been his prisoner, he alone had rescued 
four Spaniards, whom the Indians had taken by 
way of reprisal, and chased above four hundred 
persons, who fled at the sight of his horse. 

The admiral, being now resolved to discover 
the continent,* appointed a council to govern the 
island in his absence, consisting of his brother 

* It is worthy of remark, that while Columbus was thus 
settling the affairs of Hispaniola, John Cabot, a citizen of 
Venice who lived at Bristol, and his son Sebastian, sailed from 
the last-mentioned city upon discoveries ; saw the continent of 
Newfoundland, to which they gave the name of Prima Yista, or 
First Seen ; and on the 24th of June, the same year 1494, weiit 
ashore on an island, which they called St. John's, from its 
being discovered on St. John's day. John Cabot, on his 
' return to England, reported that this island was barren, but 
that the sea near the coast abounded with fish ; that the people 
wore bear- skin clothes, and were armed with bows, arrows, 
pikes, wooden clubs, daits and slings ; and upon this repoit he 
obtained a patent for making discoveries, but, dying soon after, 
King Henry YIL granted a new patent to his son Sebastian, 
who set sail on the 4th of May, 1497, before Columbus began 
his third voyage. Sebastian sailed as high as 67° 30' north 
latitude ; proceeding thence into latitude 56°, whence he ran 
down to 38° along the coast of the continent of America, which, 
he expressly says, was afterwards called Florida, where, pro- 
visions growing short, he sailed back, touched at Newfound- 
Ian ^^ and returned to England. 



WESTERN WORLD. 55 

Diego or James, who was present, and five other 
persons. He then sailed with three ships to Cuba, 
and, running along the south side of that island, 
entered a large bay, which he called Puerto Grande 
from its extent and depth of water. While he 
continued his course along the coast, a great num- 
ber of Indians came aboard in their canoes with 
presents of bread, water, and fish ; in return for 
which he gave them a few bells, beads, and otiier 
trifles. 

On the 5th of May he reached Jamaica, where he 
had been told there was great abundance of gold. 
On casting anchor at that island, he thought it the 
most beautiful of any he had yet seen, and a sur- 
prising multitude of the natives came in canoes 
of different sizes to exchange provisions for toys. 
The next day he coasted along the island ; but, 
sending out his boat to sound the mouths of the 
harbours, they were soon surrounded with canoes 
filled with armed men, who seemed resolved on 
begining hostilities. However, the Spaniards, be- 
ing determined to enter Puerto Bueno, saluted 
them with such a flight of arrows, that, several of 
them being wounded, the rest instantly retired. 
In that port the admiral repaired his ship, and 
afterwards sailed back to Cuba, with a firm reso- 
lution to know whether it was an island or a 
continent. The same day a young Indian of 
Jamaica, coming on board, begged to accompany 
Columbus to Spain ; and though many of his kin- 
dred and other persons entreated him with tears 
in their eyes to return, he persisted in his reso!i> 



55 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

tion, and the admiral gave orders that he should 
be treated with the utmost civility. 

On the 15th he reached the point of Cuba^ which 
he named Cabo de Santa Cruz, or Cape Holy 
Cross; but, as he coasted along, he was overtaken 
by a terrible storm of thunder and lightning, which 
was the more dangerous as he was entangled 
amongst the currents and flats, which hindered 
him from taking in his sails. He found the sea to 
the north and north-east of that island covered 
with a prodigious number of small, low, and sandy 
islands, some of which scarcely appeared above the 
surface of the water, and consequently rendered 
the navigation very hazardous. It is true, the 
nearer they sailed to Cuba the higher and more 
pleasant these little islands appeared; and it being 
a matter of difficulty and of no advantage to give 
a name to each of them, he styled them all in 
general the Queen's Garden. The next day these 
islands seemed to multiply on all hands, so that his 
men reckoned one hundred and sixty of them, 
parted from each other by navigable channels, 
T,hrough which the ships sailed. In some of them 
they saw a great number of cranes that were as 
red as scarlet ; abundance of turtles and their eggs, 
and an infinite number of small singing-birds ; 
and, what appeared still more extraordinary, the 
air was as sweet as if it had been impregnated with 
the richest perfumes. In one of the above channels 
they found a canoe with fishermen, who, seeing the 
boat approach, without the least concern made 
signs to the Spaniards to keep off till they had 



WESTERN WORLD. 57 

done fishing ; and. as their manner of catching fish 
appeared very surprising, they were willing to 
comply. The men had tied some small fishes, 
called revesj by the tail, which, meeting with an- 
other fish, fixed themselves to it by a sucker on 
the top of the head, when the fishermen drew them 
up together. Upon this occasion they caught a 
sea-turtle, to whose neck the reve or sucking-fish 
had fastened itself : and in this manner they will 
sometimes adhere to sharks of the largest size. 
The Indians in the canoe, having taken a turtle, 
w^ent on board to the admiral, and made him a 
present of all the fish they had caught, for which 
he gratified them with a few baubles. 

On the 22d of May5 Columbus landed in an 
island somewhat bigger than the rest, which he 
called St. Clary's ; but, entering a town, all the in- 
habitants fied, when the Spaniards found nothing 
but fish in their houses, which was all the food 
tiiose people lived upon, and some dogs resembling 
mastiffs, that lived on the same food. He then 
directed his course north-east, where he was still 
bewildered by an astonishing number of flats and 
islands ; and, notwithstanding all his precaution in 
sounding and keeping men upon the round-top to 
look out, the ship was often aground, and this 
obliged him to relinquish his design of sailing east 
about before he returned to Spain. 

Being now in great want of water, he again 
touched at Cuba, when one of his sailors, mounting 
a tree with a crossbow to kill some bird or beast, dis- 
covered thirty people armed with spears and staves. 



58 DISCOYEPJES IN THE 

and among tbem a person dressed in a white vest 
which huDg down to his knees, and carried by two 
men in long garments that reached to their feet, all 
three being, as white as the Spaniards ; seeing so 
many of their attendants, he was terrified^ and, call- 
ing to his companions, the Indians ran away with- 
out looking back. The next day the admiral sent 
some people on shore to discover the truth of this 
report ; but the woods and marshes were so im- 
passable, that, after having travelled about a league 
from the coast, they were obliged to return. 

Having sailed about ten leagues to the westward, 
they observed houses on the shore, from which the 
natives came in canoes with food and water, for 
wdiich they were well paid. The admiral, ho^vever, 
caused one of these Indians to be detained ; but 
told him and the rest, by his interpreter, that he 
w^ould let him go as soon as he had given him 
proper directions for his voyage, and some account 
of the country. The Indian, satisfied with this 
promise, let him know that Cuba was an island ; 
and that the coast w^as very low, and surrounded 
by small islands. 

The next day, the admiral being enclosed between 
two islands, was obliged to tow the ships over a 
flat, where there was but very little water ; when, 
bearing up to the coast of Cuba, the Spaniards saw 
very large turtle in such numbers that they cover- 
ed the sea. The next morning the sun was dark- 
ened by the multitude ot sea-crows, which fle\v 
towards the shore and lighted upon it ; there also 
appeared abundance of pigeons and other birds ; 



WESTERN WORLD. 69 

and the next day there came such a swarm of 
butterflies that they darkened the air from morn- 
ing till night, when they were carried away by a 
great shower of rain. 

On the 13th, Columbus, perceiving that the coast 
of Cuba ran far west, and that there w^ould be tho 
greatest difficulty in sailing that way, resolved to 
return to the town he had begun to build at His- 
paniola ; but, being in want of wood and water, he 
anchored in Evangelista, an island of about thirty 
leagues in compass, and, having provided the ships 
with what they wanted, directed his course to the 
south. After having sailed a few leagues through a 
channel which seemed to be the clearest, he found 
himself embayed, and being in a manner destitute 
of provisions, was under great consternation. 
However, for fear of discouraging his men, he ap- 
peared as cheerful as possible, and having returned 
as he entered, sailed towards some islands to the 
north-west, near to which the sea seemed to be of 
different colours, owing in all probability to the 
shallow water and the nature of the bottom seen 
through it. Soon after his ship ran aground so 
fast that she could not be got off without great 
difficulty and danger; but, however, this was at last 
effected, and after many difficulties he escaped from 
these shoals and islands, and arrived again a^t Cuba. 

On the 7th of July, landing to hear mass, he 
was visited by an old cacique, who appeared very 
attentive, and afterwards signified his belief of the 
existence of a supreme Being, who rewards virtue 
and punishes vice in a future state. 



60 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

On the 16th of July, as Columbus was steering 
towards Cape Cruz, in the island of Cuba, he was 
surprised with such a violent storm that the ships 
were almost upset before the sails could be furled, 
and they shipped so much water that the men were 
scarce able to keep them clear by pumping ; for 
his people were rendered extremely weak by fatigue 
and want of provisions, their allowance being only 
a pound of biscuit and half a pint of wine a day, • 
unless they happened to catch fish. This allowance 
the admiral himself did not exceed. However, on 
his arrival at Cape Cruz he was civilly entertained 
by the Indians, who supplied him with bread 
made of grated roots, with plenty of fish^ and great 
quantities of delicious fruit. 

Columbus now stood over to Jamaica, and, 
coasting along to the westward, found that part of 
the island full of excellent harbours, and abound- 
ing with inhabitants. He then made the south 
side of Hispaniola, and, having lost sight of the 
other two ships that were under his command, cast 
anchor at a small island, where his men killed 
eight seals that lay asleep on the shore, and took 
great numbers of pigeons and other birds, which, 
being unaccustomed to the cruelty of man, 
stood still while they Vv^ere knocked down with 
staves. 

Six days after, the admiral, being joined by the 
other ships that were missing, proceeded on his 
voyage, and coasted along Hispaniola, which ex- 
hibited the prospect of a delightful plain, extending 
a mile from the sea, and so populous that for a 



TVESTEKN WORLD. 61 

league together it seemed to be one continued 
town, in the neighbourhood of which was a lake 
five leagues in length. Here the natives came on 
board in their canoes, and told the admiral that 
they had been visited by some Spaniards from 
Isabella, where all was well ; when, being greatly 
pleased with this information, he immediately des- 
patched nine men across the island wath the news 
of his safe return, while he and his ships continued 
sailing along the coast to the eastward. In this 
course he sent the boats ashore for water near a 
great town, from which the Indians came to oppose 
their landing with boats and poisoned arrows, 
and produced some ropes with which they threat- 
ened to bind the Christians. But, as soon as the 
boats reached the shore, they civilly laid down 
their arms, asked for the admiral, and carried him 
provisions. Near this place they saw a large fish 
of the size of a middling whale, with a shell like 
that of a tortoise on its neck. It bore its head, 
which was of immense size, above water ; had a 
long tail like that of a tunny-fish, and two vast 
fins on the sides. From this and other con- 
curring circumstances, the admiral prognosticated 
a change of weather, and seeking some place 
where he might ride secure, cast anchor under 
a little island, called by the Spaniards Saona. 
He then observed an eclipse of the moon, which 
was followed by a tempest that lasted several days, 
during which he was under the greatest appre- 
hensions on account of the other vessels which 
could not get in. However, they weathered the 



62 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

storm, and joined the admiral, who continued his 
voyage, but was soon after seized with a lethargy 
which deprived him of his senses and memory. 
On this account it was agreed to sail directly to 
Isabella, v\^here they arrived on the 29th of Sep- 
tember. The admiral, on landing, soon recovered 
his health, though his weakness lasted several 
months. 

Columbus, on his arrival, found his brother 
Bartholomew at Isabella, and perceived that the 
natives had taken up arms against the Spaniards. 
The admiral's joy was extreme at the sight of 
Bartholomew, who, returning to Spain from the 
court of England, where all his demands were 
granted, had been informed of his brother Chris- 
topher's success by Charles, King of France, who 
presented him with one hundred crowns to defray 
the expense of his journey. Upon this he made 
all the haste he could to overtake the admiral in 
Spain ; but, before his arrival at Seville, Chris- 
topher had sailed on the second voyage ; however, 
waiting on their Catholic majesties, he was received 
with honour, and ordered to sail with three ships 
to the West Indies, in order to carry provisions to 
his brother, where he arrived while the admiral 
was gone upon the discovery of Cuba. 

Christopher Columbus now gave his brother 
Bartholomew the title of governor of the Indies, 
which their Catholic majesties very much resented, 
alleging that he had no power to grant so high an 
office ; but this difference was after a time com- 
nromisecl, and his position confirmed under the 



WESTERN WORLD. 63 

title of Adelantado, or Lord-lieutenant of the 
Indies. 

Though Christopher Columbus rejoiced at hav- 
ing the company and assistance of his brother^ he 
Avas soon involved in great trouble and vexation 
by the misconduct of Peter ]\Iargarite, who, instead 
of obeying his orders, by traversing the island 
with three hundred and sixty foot and fourteen 
horse^ which had been left under his command, had 
encamped in a large plain at ten leagues' distance 
from Isabella, whence he despatched the most 
insolent letters to the council ; but finding that he 
was unable to obtain the supreme command, and 
dreading the return of the admiral, who might 
punish him for his presumption, he, together with 
Father Boyle, wdio had been sent to convert the 
Indians, embarked on board one of the three ships 
that brought over Bartholomew, and with others 
of his party returned into Spain, without assigning 
any reason for his departure, or disposing of the 
men under his command. These, however, dispersed 
themselves through the country, robbed the natives 
of their women and effects, and committed such 
outrages, as not only entirely alienated the affection 
of the Indians from the Spaniards, but induced 
them to lay schemes of revenge ; a cacique, w^ho 
had a large town, attacking some small strag- 
gling parties, killed ten of the Spaniards, and set 
fire to a house in wdiich eleven of them were sick. 
Six of the Spaniards were killed in other parts of 
the island, and much greater numbers would have 
perished had it not been for the admiral's return. 



CA DISCOYERIES IX THS 



The Indians, indeed, might have easily shaken o(r 
the Spanish yoke had they but united in their 
own defence ; for there were four principal caciques 
or kings, each of whom had seventy or eighty petty 
lords under his subjection, who were obliged, when 
called upon, to assist in the wars. 

Columbus was very uneasy at finding that the 
Christians by their vices had rendered themselves 
hated by the Indians, who could not bear their 
insolence and barbarity. Guacanagari, indeed, 
continued a firm friend to the Spaniards, and, 
visiting the admiral on his return, declared that 
he had been so far from joining with his enemies, 
that he had protected and maintained an hundred 
of his people, by which means he had incurred the 
displeasure of the other caciques. Behechico had 
killed one of his women, and another of them had 
been carried off by Caunabo ; he therefore desired 
Columbus's assistance to recover the one, and to 
revenge the death of the other. This the admiral 
readily promised ; and some of the natives who 
had murdered his men being punished with death, 
and others sent into Spain, Columbus and Guaca- 
nagari set out from Isabella to prosecute the war 
against the Indians, who were assembled to the 
number of 100,000, while Columbus's forces con- 
sisted only of two hundred foot, twenty horse, and 
twenty wolf-dogs, and Guacanagari's of a body of 
Indians. 

Columbus, being in sight of the enemy on the 
second day of his march, divided the little army 
under his command into two bodies ; one of which 



WESTERN WORLD. 65 

ho gave to his brother Bartholomew, that by 
attacking the enemy in two places at once he 
might increase their terror and confusion. The 
Indians were immediately thrown into disorder 
by the discharge of the muskets and crossbows ; 
when the Spaniards rushing upon them with their 
horses and dogs, so terrified them that they were 
soon routed, and many slain and taken prisoners. 
Among the latter was Caunabo, with all his wives 
and children, who confessed that he had before 
killed twenty of the Christians at the town of 
the Nativity, and that he intended to have acted 
in the same manner at Isabella. This confession, 
together with his being taken in arms, induced the 
admiral to send him and his whole family into 
Spain, where they might be treated in such a 
manner as was most agreeable to their Catholic 
majesties. 

This victory, and the captivity of Caunabo, so 
much intimidated the Indians, that within the 
space of a year Columbus, without any other 
engagement, reduced the whole island to obedience, 
and imposed a quarterly tribute to be paid to the 
King and Queen of Spain ; every inhabitant of 
Cebao being taxed at a certain quantity of gold, 
and the rest at twenty-five pounds of cotton a 
head. Things being thus settled to the satisfaction 
of all parties, the natives became so quiet and 
pacific, that a single Spaniard might travel in 
safety over the whole island, and every where meet 
with an hospitable and friendly reception. How- 
ever, the diseases of the climate, and change of 



66 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

diet, reduced the colony to less than one-tliird of 
the number that first settled at Isabella. 

The Spaniards^ by conversing with the natives, 
now became better acquainted with their manners 
and customs, and learned, amongst other things, 
that the island produced ebony, cedar, long pepper, 
ginger, frankincense, a great number of mulberry- 
trees, and copper. 

In regard to religion, every cacique had a de- 
tached temple set apart for the service of certain 
wooden images called Cemies, before which they 
performed several ceremonies, and prayed with 
great devotion. In each of these temples was a 
round table, on which was a certain kind of powder, 
vrhich, being laid on the head of the idol, the de- 
votee snuffed it up through a hollow cane, which 
consisted of two branches, at the same time re- 
peating a kind of jargon which seemed altogether 
unintelligible, and by this powder he was imme- 
diately intoxicated. These images had different 
names, and some were in much higher reputation 
than others, so that a Cemi of character was fre- 
quently stolen. The Indians carefully concealed 
these ceremonies from the Christians, whom they 
would not suffer to enter the places of their devo- 
tions. Some Spaniards once rushed into a temple, 
at which the idol began to cry aloud in the Indian 
tongue: the Christians, however, soon comprehended 
and discovered the trick, by kicking it down, when 
they perceived that it was supplied with a trunk, 
the farther end of which reached to a dark corner 
of the apartment, vrhere a man lay concealed 



WESTERN WORLD. 67 

among boughs and leaves^ and spoke what was 
dictated by the cacique, who now finding himself 
detected, earnestly entreated the Spaniards not to 
communicate the discovery to his subjects^ as it 
would render it impossible for him to keep them 
in obedience. 

Most of these princes had also three stones, which 
both they and their people devoutly worshipped, 
one of which, they said, presided over the corn and 
other grain, the other affected women in child- 
birth, and the third had an influence on the 
weather. 

When a sick Indian was deemed past recovery, 
he was strangled by order of the cacique, and was 
either burnt, buried, or embalmed, at the pleasure 
of his relations. Some, on being emboweled and 
dried, were laid in hammocks, with bread and 
water at their heads, and others deposited in a 
cave furnished wdth the same kind of provisions. 
It is observable that Caunabo, being questioned, 
about a future state, said, that after death he 
should go to a certain vale, where he should find 
his parents and predecessors, and eat, drink, and 
qpjoy all sensual pleasures in the highest perfection. 

But to return to Don Pedro Margarite and 
Father Boyle, who, after having thrown the island 
into confusion^ had, as has been already mentioned, 
deserted their posts and returned to Spain. These 
persons united in speaking ill of the Indies, and 
misrepresented every thing done by Columbus, 
because they had not found gold ready for them to 
plunder heaped up in chests, or growing on the 



68 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

trees ; and as there were also letters written by some 
of the malcontents, which gave an ill character 
of the admiral^ their Catholic majesties sent John 
Aguado, groom of the king's bedchamber, to ob- 
serve what was being done in the island of Hispa- 
niola, and to set sail with four ships laden with 
necessaries for the relief of the peoj)le. 

John Aguado arrived at Isabella while the admi- 
ral was in a distant province, and, having pretended 
that he was invested with extraordinary authority, 
interfered in matters of government, reproved the 
admiral's ministers, and some time after followed 
Columbus, attended by a body of horse and foot. 
Columbus, however, being told that John Aguado 
was in search of him, returned to Isabella^ where 
Aguado behaved with the utmost indiscretion, and 
treated the admiral with the greatest disrespect ; 
while the people, being discontented from having 
no other provisions but a daily allowance, out of 
the king's stores, of a porringer of wheat and a 
slice of rusty bacon or rotten cheese, with a few 
beans or Spanish peas, and being obliged, as they 
were in the king's pay, to work at the fortifications, 
the admiral's own house, and other structures, 
complained to Aguado, who resolved to lay their 
complaints before their majesties. 

At this time the four ships brought by Aguado 
perished by a hurricane in the harbour, and thei^e 
was no vessel left to carry him back but the admi- 
ral's two caravels ; when Columbus, observing his 
i^resumption, and having been informed that others 
had misrepresented him at court, where he had no 



WESTERN WORLD. 69 

other support than his own merit, resolved to ap- 
pear before their majesties in order to vindicate 
himself ; to let them know what he had found in 
his second discovery relating to the island of Cuba, 
and his opinion as to the partition that was to be 
made between the two crowns of Castile and Portu- 
gal. But, before he left the island, he ordered seve- 
ral new forts to be built ; and being informed by- 
some of the caciques, that there were gold mines 
on the south side of the island, he found it neces- 
sary, in order to support his own credit, to discover 
as much of that metal as possible, and therefore 
sent several persons with Indian guides, who, ad- 
vancing into the most southern province, found 
gold in all the brooks, and, digging in several 
places, met with such plenty of it that one la- 
bourer in a day could get above three pesos. These 
they called the mines of St. Christopher, from a fort 
the admiral ordered to be erected there. 

Columbus having settled the affairs of the island, 
and appointed his brother Bartholomew his lieute- 
nant, went on board one of the caravels, and John 
Aguado the other, and taking with him two hun- 
dred and twenty-five Spaniards, who w^anted to 
return, with thirty Indians, sailed from Isabella 
on the 10th of March, 1496. He continued his 
course till the 6th of April ; but meeting only with 
contrary winds, and finding his provisions falling 
short and his men discouraged, he stood off towards 
the Caribbee islands, and on the 10th of April 
. anchored at Guadalupe, where many women came 
with bows and arrows to hinder their landing. 



70 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

As the sea ran very high, the boats were not 
able to reach the shore ; upon which he ordered 
two Indian women to swim to it, and to tell the 
islanders that they wanted nothing but provisions, 
for which they would give them a valuable con- 
sideration. 

The female warriors no sooner understood the 
demand of the Spaniards, than they directed them 
to sail to the other side of the island, where they 
would be supplied by their husbands. But on their 
arrival there a great number of peoi)le came down to 
the shore, and discharged their arrows at the boats. 
Perceiving, however, that the Spaniards rowed 
towards the land, they retired and formed an am- 
buscade in the nearest woods, whence they were 
easily driven by the firing of guns ; when their 
houses and effects, being abandoned, were pillaged 
by the Spaniards, who, being acquainted with the 
method of making bread, went to work, and made 
a sufficient quantity of it to supply their wants. 
In these Indian houses, which, contrary to the prac- 
tice of the other islands, were square, they found 
large parrots, honey, wax, and iron. While many 
of the people were employed in baking bread, the 
admiral sent forty men to obtain some intelligence 
of the coimtry, and the next day they returned 
with ten women and three boys, amongst v/hom 
was the wife of a cacique, whom a man born in 
the Canaries had much difficulty to overtake, which 
he could not have done, had she not, on seeing him 
alone, turned back, when, seizing him, she threw 
him upon the ground^ and would certainly have 



■WESTERN WORLD. 71 

stifled liim had not others come to his assistance. 
These women swathed their legs with a piece of 
cotton from the ankle to the knee, and wore their 
hair long and flowing upon their shoulders, but 
no other parts of their bodies were covered. It is 
pretended that the captive said the island was in- 
habited only by women, and that, amongst those 
who endeavoured to oppose the Spaniards, there 
were only four men who happened to be there by 
accident. 

Columbus, having provided his ships with a sup- 
ply of wood and water, set sail from Guadalupe on 
the 20th of April, after having made some presents 
to all the inhabitants they had in their possession, 
and set them on shore, except the chief and her 
daughter, who chose to go to Spain with Caunabo, 
w^ho was a native of the Caribbees, though a cacique 
of Hispaniola. 

On the 20th of May, when the ships were about a 
hundred leagues west of the Azores, their provisions 
began to fail, on which each man was allowed only 
six ounces of bread, and something less than a pint 
of water a day ; and, though there were eight or 
nine pilots in these two sloops, yet none of them 
knew where they were. On the 8th of June, seve- 
ral days after the reckonings of all the pilots had 
been out except the admiral's, they were in sight 
of Odemira, between Lisbon and Cape St. Vincent, 
which some mistook for the coast of Galicia, while 
others maintained that they were in the English 
channel. The scarcity on board was now so great 
that many of the men proposed to eat the Indians ; 



72 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

whWe others, to save the little provision that re- 
mained^ were for throwing them overboard. These 
cruel expedients were rejected by the admiral, who 
was obliged to exert all his address and authority in 
order to protect the Indians, and the next morning 
was rewarded for his humanity with the sight of 
land, which agreed so well with his having the 
evening before asserted that he was near Cape St. 
Vincent, which all on board had laughed at, that 
his men believed he was actually a prophet in sea 
affairs. 

The admiral, on landing, set out for Burgos, 
where he was favourably received by their Catholic 
majesties, who were then celebrating the nuptials 
of their son with Margaret of Austria, the daugh- 
ter of the emperor Maximilian. He presented the 
king and queen with several sorts of spice, various 
kinds of rich woods, birds of beautiful colours, 
girdles and masks adorned with gold plates, a large 
quantity of gold-dust, with grains of that metal of 
different sizes ; and had so far improved his former 
discoveries as to be able to affirm, that there were 
innumerable islands in these newl3'-discovered seas, 
that had the richest soil, and abounded with the 
most valuable natural productions. 

Columbus, having vindicated his own conduct to 
their majesties' satisfaction, earnestly solicited to 
be sent back with supplies to the colony he had 
left, being in want both of men and many neces- 
saries ; but, notwithstanding the warmth of his 
solicitations, the court was so dilatory, that ten or 
twelve months elapsed before he could obtain what 



VYESTERN WORLD. 73 

was needed. These supplies were sent in two ships 
commanded by Peter Fernandez Coronel ; and^ 
after his departure, Columbus continued at court 
to procure the equipment of such a fleet as was 
proper for him to conduct to the West Indies. - 
This was, however, long retarded by the negligence 
and ill management of the king's officers, and par- 
ticularly of Don Juan de Fonseca, archdeacon of 
Seville, who was afterwards created bishop of 
Burgos, and proved an inveterate enemy to Colum- 
bus, whom he at length brought into disgrace. 



74 DISCOTEEIES IN THE 



CHAPTEE III. 

Third voyage. — Columbus steers a new course — Passes by the 
Cape de Yerd islands — Anchors at one, where the Portu- 
guese send their lepers to be cured by living upon turtle 
— Sails thence to the West, discovers the Isle of Trinidad, 
and afterwards the Continent, which he at first supposed to 
be an island, but finding his mistake called it Paria — Pearls — 
Civilities of the Indians — Heturn to Hispaniola — The trou- 
bles of that island, Eoldan's rebellion — Tranquillity restored 
— Gold in abundance — The Court of Spain, alarmed at the 
many complaints from the Indies, sends a deputy to hear and 
determine them — Intrigues of Bovadilla — The admiral, with 
his two brothers, sent home in irons. 

Columbus set sail from the bay of St. Lucar de 
Barrameda, on the 30th of May, 1498, with six 
ships laden with provisions and necessaries for the 
planters in Hispaniola, with a firm resolution to 
discover the continent. On the 7th of June he 
arrived at the island of Puerto Santo, where he 
took iu wood and water ; on the 9th touched at 
Madeira, where he received other necessaries on 
board ; and on the 19th reached Gomera, at which 
place a French ship had taken three Spanish ves- 
sels, and stood to sea with tliem, in sight of the 
squadron. The admiral, on being informed of this 
capture, ordered three of his ships to give chase ; but 
they had made too much way for the Spanish ships 
to come up with them. However, one of the prizes 
was retrieved by the bravery of the Spaniards^ who, 



TTESTERN WORLD. 75 

rising against the French, secured them under 
the hatches, and returned with the vessel safe into 
port. 

Columbus sailed thence to the island of Ferro, 
and having resolved to send three of his ships to 
Hispaniola, while he sailed wdth the rest to the 
Cape de Verd islands, and thence to the continent, 
he appointed John Antonio Columbus, his kinsman, 
Peter de Arana, and Alonzo Sa chez de Carvajal, 
captains of the three ships bound for Kispaniola, 
wdth orders that each should command a week in 
turn. Having dismissed them near the island of 
Hiero, he, on the 27th of June, descried the island 
of Sal, the first of the Cape de Verd islands, and, 
ppcSsing it, anchored close to a small island, to which 
all the lepers in Portugal were sent tc be cured by 
eating turtle, and washing themselves frequently 
with their blood ; for in the months of June, July, 
and August, abundance of these amphibious ani- 
mals resort thither from the continent to lay their 
eggs in the sand, and are easily caught by turning 
them on their backs while they are asleep. This 
was the sole business of the wretched lepers, and 
these animals their only sustenance ; for there is 
neither tree nor spring in the island, so that they 
are obliged to drink the water of certain pits, which 
is brackish and unpalatable. The healthy people 
living on that island amounted only to six or seven, 
whose whole employment consisted in killing and 
salting goats, and curing their skins, of which there 
were such multitudes on the mountains, that they 
have sometimes, in the course of one year, killed 



76 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

to the value of four tbonsand ducats, though the 
whole stock was produced from eight goats carried 
thither by Eoderick Al23honsOj the proprietor of the 
island. 

On the 30th of June, Columbus sailed for the 
island of St. Jago, where he cast anchor in the 
evening of the next day, and sent ashore to buy cows 
and bulls wherewith to stock his plantation in His- 
paniola ; but, finding that he could not obtain 
them without some difficulty and delay, and 
being unwilling to stay in so unhealthy a place, his 
men beginning to sicken, he sailed to the south- 
west, resolving to continue that course till he should 
be under the line, and then to steer due west in 
search of undiscovered countries. He proceeded 
in this course, notwithstanding he met with violent 
currents, which set towards the north and north- 
west, until he arrived within five degrees of north 
latitude, where he was becalmed for eight days, 
during which the heat was so excessive that the 
men could hardly breathe, and, had not the air been 
sometimes cooled with showers of rain, the crew ap- 
prehended that they should have been burnt with 
tlieir ships. The admiral therefore resolved to 
steer due west ; but having sailed many days in 
that course, and judging that the Caribbee islands 
lay to the north, he resolved to sail directly for 
Hispaniola. 

Having stood to the northward, one day about 
noon a sailor, going up to the round-top, observed 
land at the distance of fifteen leagues, that had 
the appearance of three mountains. This island 




COLUMBUS A>'D THE CACIQUE. 



Page 77. 



WESTERN WORLD. 77 

the admiral distinguished by the name of La 
Trinidad, or Trinity; and, sailing due west, 
anchored five leagues beyond a point whieh he 
called Punta de la Galera, from a rock which at 
a distance resembled a galley under sail ; but, 
finding no convenience for taking in water, he 
sailed farther west, and cast anchor at another 
point. He there took in water \^ itbout seeing any 
houses or people, though in coasting along he had 
left several towns behind him. The same day, 
being the 1st of August, they discovered the 
continent at the distance of twenty-five leagues ; 
but, mistaking it for another island, the admiral 
gave it the name of Isla Santa. 

Columbus now proceeded to a more westerly 
point of the island of Trinidad, which he named 
Panta del Arenal, or Sandy Point, where, landing 
with his men in order to obtain refreshments, a 
cacique of the island came to him, and observing 
that he wore a cap of crimson velvet, not only paid 
great respect, but took off a circle of gold he had 
on his head and put it on the admiral's, and with 
the other hand took off the admiral's cap, with 
which he was greatly pleased, and put it on his 
own head. The same day^ when they were aboard 
their ships, a large canoe carrying twenty-five men 
came from the eastward, and, when about the 
distance of a musket-shot, the Indians gave over 
rowing, and called aloud ; but as what they said 
could not be understood, the admiral ordered some 
of the men to allure them to the ship by shewing 
them some little brass basins, looking-glasses, and 



78 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

other glittering toys ; this, however, proved In- 
effectual. Thinking to please them, he then ordered 
one of the men to ascend the poop and play upon 
the tabor and pipe, while others danced around 
him. This had quite a contrary effect, for they 
took it for a signal of war ; and therefore, quitting 
their oars, laid hold of their targets and bows, and 
let fly their arrows. Upon this the admiral 
ordered the music to cease, and some crossbows 
to be brought, but only two of them to be shot ; 
whereupon the Indians immediately laid down 
their arms, and ran in close under the stern of one 
of the caravels, the pilot of which went down into 
the canoe, and giving one who seemed to be a 
principal person a red cap, they made signs to him 
to go ashore, intimating that they would give him 
such things as they had ; but while he went in the 
boat to ask the admiral's leave, they rowed away. 

These people were whiter than the Indians of 
the other islands, and had agreeable countenances. 
Their hair was long and straight ; about their heads 
they tied a piece of cotton cloth curiously wrought 
of several colours, and another about their waists. 
The admiral wondered that, being so near the 
Equinoctial, he every morning felt the cold, not- 
withstanding it was the dog-days ; he observed 
that the rivers ran with greater rapidity than those 
of Seville ; that the sea at high-water flowed above 
forty-eight paces up the shore, as it did at St. 
Lucar ; and that the current set v/ith such strength 
between the islands of Trinidad and Santa, which 
were only two leagues asunder, that it resembled 



WESTERN WOELD. 79 

a rapid river. Th© Spaniards found that the 
fruit, trees^ soil, and climate were the same as in 
Hispaniola. They saw parrots, some of a light 
green, others whitish, and others intermixed with 
red and yellow ; and also caught very large oysters, 
and great quanties of other fish. 

The ships having taken in water at Punta del 
Arenal, Columbus proceeded to a point on the 
north-west of what he till then called Isla Santa, 
which he thought to be extraordinary high land, 
as indeed it is ; and this, which is a part of the 
continent near the vast ridge of mountains called 
the Andes, he afterwards called Paria. 

He now proceeded to another mouth or channel, 
which he called Boco del la Sierpe. or the Serpent's 
Mouthj from the danger of the place ; for, anchor- 
ing near a rock, the sea ran so furiously to the 
northward that it resembled the mouth of a great 
river, the stream of which, increasing with a 
hideous noise, met with another current from the 
gulf of Paria, and swelled up the sea with terrible 
roaring, to the astonishment and consternation of 
the Spaniards, who expected to be overwhelmed. 
However, they suffered no other damage than one 
of the ships dragging her anchor. This danger 
being past, the admiral sailed westward along the 
coast of Paria, discovering several good harbours 
and rivers ; and, going ashore, saw many monkeys, 
and found plantains and other fruits like those of 
the islands. 

On the 6th of August they sailed five leagues 
farther down, between the coast and the isle of 



80 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Trinidad, where, dropping anchor, three men carao 
in a canoe, and, being carried to the admiral, were 
treated with great civility, presented with toys, and 
set on shore at a place where a number of In- 
dians were assembled. These no sooner understood 
the pacific disposition of the Spaniards, than they 
came in their canoes to barter with the same things 
that had been bought by the Spaniards at the 
islands. They drank a liquid as white as milk, 
and another that was green, made of fruit and 
maize. The men covered their heads and waists 
with well- woven cotton of different colours; but 
the women here, as well as in the isle of Trinidad, 
were entirely naked. They seemed in general to be 
more civilized and tractable than the inhabitants 
of Hispaniola, and were particularly fond of brass 
trinkets and bell? ; but having nothing of value, 
except a few inconsiderable plates of gold that 
hung about their necks, Columbus ordered six of 
them to be taken on board, and then continuing 
his course, saw a fine country well peopled, and a 
town, which for its beauty he called the Gardens, 
where he anchored, and many resorted to the ships 
with wrought cloths on their heads, and some of 
them with plates of gold about their necks. The 
Indians on board said there was plenty of that 
metal in those parts, and shewed how they gathered 
it. As they sailed farther they were still visited 
by more canoes, in which all the people wore gold 
collars with beads of various sorts ; and one Indian 
in particular had a single lump of gold as big as 
an apple. The women wore strings of beads about 



WESTERN WORLD. 81 

their arms^ some of which were very fine pearls ; 
these they signified were found in oysters to the 
westward of Paria ; and the admiral, having pnr- 
chased some of these for a present to their Catholic 
majesties, sent the boats to make further inquiry 
about that valuable commodity. But though the 
sailors had no design to land, two of the Indian 
chiefs civilly invited them, and conducted them to 
a house where they were kindly entertained with 
bread, fruit of several sorts, the whit^ liquor before 
mentioned, and another of a red colour and good 
taste; the men all the while keeping together at 
one end of the house, and the women at the other. 
When they had been thus treated by the eldest, 
the youngest carried them to another house, and 
treated them in the same manner. The sailors 
returned well satisfied to their boats, highly pleased 
with the people, who were whiter than any other 
of the Indians, and of a very good stature ; but 
what appeared to the admiral as very extra- 
ordinary was, the country seeming cool and de- 
lightful, notwithstanding its being so near the 
Equator. 

Columbus still continuing his course, found that 
the water grew more and more shallow, and there- 
fore anchoring upon the coast, he sent the smallest 
caravel to discover whether there was an outlet to 
the westward among what appeared to be islands, 
but she returned the next day with a report that 
what seemed islands was one continued continent; 
so that, standing back to the eastward, he repassed 
the straits called the Dragon's Mouth, between 

G 



82 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

Paria and Trinity Island, but not without great 
difficulty and danger from the boisterous currents- 
He now sailed westward along the coast of Paria, 
and, after passing by several islands, on the 30th of 
August entered the harbour of St. Domingo in 
Hispaniola, where his brother had built a town 
which he called by that name, in memory of his 
father, whose name was Dominick. 

Columbus was at this time almost blind with 
watching, and quite exhausted with fatigue ; but 
he now indulged the hope of enjoy iug rest and 
tranquillity. He was, however, grievously disap- 
pointed ; for he soon found that the whole island 
was in the utmost confusion. The greatest part 
of those he had left were dead ; above one hundred 
and sixty were miserably infected with disease, 
and a great number had rebelled, at the head of 
whom was Francis Eoldan^ whom he had appointed 
alcade, or chief justice. 

It has been already observed that a considerable 
time elapsed before Columbus could obtain a sup- 
ply, from their Catholic majesties, for the colony of 
Hispaniola. In this interval, provisions beginning 
to fail, the Spaniards of the island began to 
murmur, became dissatisfied with their situation, 
and even despaired of his return. Koldan, whose 
office gave him a considerable influence, resolved 
to take advantage of this spirit of discontent, in 
order to centre the whole power in his own hands, 
and therefore encouraged the murmurs of the dis- 
contented against Bartholomew Columbus, the 
lieutenant, and his brother Diego, to whose tyranny 



WESTEKN WOKLD. 83 

lie imputed all their sufferings. His intrigues were 
so successful, that the minds of many of the 
Spaniards were alienated from the brothers of 
Christopher Columbus, and they even made several - 
attempts upon their lives. Eoldan, at length 
pulling off the mask, assembled his men, who 
amounted to sixty-five^ and attempted to seize the 
town and fort of the Conception. But this scheme 
miscarried through the vigilance of Ballester, the 
commander, who, having obtained intelligence of 
his design, communicated it to the lieutenant, from 
whom he received a reinforcement. This rebellious 
behaviour obliged Bartholomew to send orders to 
Eoldan to resign his post and submit to an impar- 
tial trial ; but he disdainfully refused to obey these 
commands, and marched with his mutineers to 
Isabella, where he tried in vain to launch a caravel 
which was upon the stocks, plundered the store- 
houses and magazines, and obliged Diego 
Columbus to retire for protection into the fort ; 
after which he fell upon the cattle that grazed in 
the neighbourhood, killed many of them for pro- 
visions, and took all the beasts of burden to serve 
his people in their march to the province of 
Xaragua, where he chose to reside, on account of 
its being the most pleasant and plentiful part of the 
island, and abounding with beautiful women. 

Before Eoldan set out for this retreat, he resolved 
to try his strength, and, if possible, surprise the 
town of the Conception, where he intended to 
murder the lieutenant, and did not doubt that he 
should easily subdue his men, who were too fond 



84 DISCOYEEIES IX THE 

of an idle and voluptuous life ; but Don Bartlio- 
lomew, who was a man of equal courage and 
discretion^ took such measures that not one of his 
people would forsake him, and, boldly marching 
out against Eoldan, the latter did not think fit to 
hazard a battle. Eoldan now, by artful insinua- 
tions to the prejudice of Christopher Columbus 
and his brothers, engaged Guarinoex, a powerful 
cacique, in his interest; and several Indian chiefs, 
who were flattered with the hope of having their 
tribute remitted, entered into an association, by 
which it was resolved that at the full moon the 
natives should surprise and murder the Spaniards, 
who, for the convenience of finding subsistence, 
lived amongst them in small detached . parties. 
But this project also miscarried through the igno- 
rance of the Indians, some of whom being mistaken 
with respect to the appearance of the moon, fell 
upon the Christians before the appointed time, and 
were easily repulsed; by which means the con- 
spiracy was discovered, and the Spaniards put upon 
their guard. 

Eoldan, who was greatly mortified at these 
repeated miscarriages, now retired with his fol- 
lowers to Xaragua, and proclaimed himself the pro- 
tector of the Indians against the oppression of the 
lieutenant and his brother ; and his artful misre- 
presentations had not only an effect on some of the 
natives, who refused to pay the tribute, but made 
an impression on the minds of those Spaniards who 
still remained under the government of the lieu- 
tenant, many of whom were, by the warmth of the 



WESTERN WORLD. 85 

climate, disposed to a life of idleness, and were dis- 
contented at having received no supplies from 
Spain ; and, indeed, such a spirit of disaffection 
was diffused amongst them, that the lieutenant did 
not dare to punish the guilty, for fear of a general 
revolt. 

From these apprehensions he was, however, in 
some measure relieved by the arrival of the two 
ships first sent, in consequence of the admiral's 
solicitations ; for these having brought a reinforce- 
ment of men and provisions, with the assurance 
that the admiral himself would soon follow, the 
people were encouraged to persevere in their duty. 
These two ships having arrived at St. Domingo, 
Eoldan marched towards that city in order to ob- 
tain necessaries, and if possible seduce some of the 
new-comers ; but he was anticipated by the activity 
of the lieutenant, who reached the place before he 
was within six leagues of it, and so effectually 
guarded the passes that he could not succeed. 
Yet, as he earnestly vvished to have the admiral 
find the island in tranquilUty, he sent overtures of 
accommodation by the commander of these vessels ; 
but Roldan sent him back with a contemptuous 
refusal. 

Whilst things were in this situation, the three 
ships which the admiral had despatched from the 
Canary islands arrived. Instead of entering the 
harbour of St. Domingo, they were driven by the 
currents as far westward as the province of Xaragua, 
where they were visited by Roldan and his follow- 
ers, who prevailed on many of the people to enter 



86 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

into his service. The captains of these three 
vessels, understanding that Bartholomew Columbus 
and the alcade were at variance, agreed that 
Carvajal, the commander of one of the ships, should 
stay in Xaragua, and endeavour to produce an ac- 
commodation ; that John Antonio Columbus, who 
commanded one of the other vessels, and was kins- 
man to the admiral, should conduct the workmen 
overland to St. Domingo ; and that Captain Arana 
should sail round with the ships. John Antonio 
Columbus accordingly lauded with forty men ; but, 
on the second day of his march, all his followers 
except six or seven deserted to the rebels, and 
with these he was obliged to return on board, after 
having in vain expostulated with Koldan upon his 
treacherous conduct on thi^ occasion. 

After a troublesome voyage, in which their 
provisions were spoiled, and Carvajal's vessel 
greatly damaged, his ships arrived at St. Domingo, 
whither the admiral had just returned from the 
discovery of the continent. His brother had 
told him of Eoldan's revolt; at which, being 
greatly concerned, he caused Eoldan to be inform- 
ed that he was extremely sorry for the breach that 
had happened between him and the adelantado, or 
lieutenant, and was very desirous of healing it ; 
that he should be glad to see him, and would grant 
him a safe conduct. At the same time, hearino- 
that the rebels complained of being detained upon 
the island for want of vessels to carry them home, 
he published a proclamation granting leave for all 
that desired it to return to Spain, promising to 



WESTEEX WOELD. 87 

supply tliem with provisions and a free passage. 
Eoldan, however, treated all the admiral's advances 
towards a reconciliation with indignity and insult, 
boasting that it was in his power either to support 
or suppress the authority of the admiral, with whom 
he would not treat without the mediation of 
Carvajal, whom, he said, he knew to be a man of 
hoDOur and discretion. 

As Carvajal was a person of consequence, and of 
some prudence, Columbus, though he had reason 
to suspect his fidelity, since he had supplied the 
rebels with arms while the ships lay at Xaragua, 
consented to employ him in this negotiation. 
Eoldan, however, refused to treat with them, sent 
an insolent letter to the admiral, and being at 
length persuaded to accept a safe-conduct, and 
to visit Columbus, made such extravagant proposals 
that he could not embrace without exposing him- 
self to contempt. Columbus therefore explained 
his reasons for rejecting them, and proclaimed a 
free pardon to all who should return to their duty 
within thirty days ; a copy of which, with new 
overtures of peace, was carried to the rebels by 
Carvajal; and about the same time Columbus sent 
five ghips to Spain, with a particular account of 
the colony and its dissensions^ addressed to their 
majesties. 

After many disputes, it was at length agreed 
that the admiral should deliver to Eoldan two 
good ships, well manned and victualled, for trans- 
porting him and his party to Spain ; that they 
should be paid their salaries and wages to the day 



88 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

of their departure ; and that such of their effects 
should be restored as had been seized by his and 
the lieutenant's order. Matters being thus com- 
promisedj the admiral gave orders for equipping 
the ships ; but the weather being extreraely bois- 
terous, some time elapsed before they could be brought 
round to Xaragua, and during this interval Eoldan 
changed his mind, and refused to embark ; and, hav- 
ing expressed a desire to see the affair accommodat- 
ed, demanded a safe-conduct in order to treat with 
Columbus in person. The latter, being sensible of 
the mutinous disposition of his own people, was so 
solicitous about healing this division, that he not 
only complied with Eoldan's demand, but went 
round with two caravels to the port of Azura, near 
Xaragua, where he had a conference with the 
rebel chief, in which it was agreed that fifteen of 
Eoldan's followers should be sent home in the first 
ships bound for Spain ; that lands and houses should 
he given instead of pay to those who remained ; 
that Eoldan should be again appointed perpetual 
alcade, and that an act of general amnesty should 
be published. 

This troublesome affair being thus adjusted, the 
;idmiral caused a captain at the head of a body of 
men to march round the island, in order to pacify 
and reduce the rebellious Indians ; and, that no 
cause of animosity might be left in Hispaniola, he 
proposed to take his brother the lieutenant with him 
to Spain ; but, while he was preparing for the voyage, 
Alonza de Hojeda arrived in the island with four 
ships from a cruisCj in which he had pretended to 



WESTERN WORLD. 89 

make discoveries, and^ having put into the port of 
Yaquimo, not only committed several outrages 
against the Indians, but by letters began to tamper 
with some of the Spaniards, who were hardly yet 
confirmed in their duty. To these he insinuated 
that Queen Isabella was in a very bad state of 
health, and that after her decease the admiral 
would find no protection at court, but must fall 
a victim to the hatred of Hojeda's kinsman, the 
bishop of Burgos, and Columbus's inveterate enemy. 
The admiral, being informed of these proceed- 
ings, ordered Roldan to march against him with 
twenty-one men. Tliis order he obeyed so sud- 
denly, that Hojeda^ finding it impossible to escape, 
went to meet him, excused his landing under 
pretence of being in want of provisions, and de- 
clared that he had no intentions to disturb the 
repose of the island, but would soon sail to St. 
Domingo, and give the admiral an account of his 
voyage. Notwithstanding these professions, he 
sailed to the province of Xaragua, where he gained 
over many of the people, by telling them that he 
and Carvajal had been appointed by their majesties 
counsollors as checks upon the admiral, and that, 
as he had not been so just as to pay them, they 
should go under his command, and do themselves 
justice by force. This wild scheme being opposed 
by some of the Spaniards, who were amazed at 
Hojeda's presumption, a tumult ensued, in which 
several persons were killed and wounded; but 
Roldan marching a second time against him, he 
retired to his ship. The alcade, perceiving he 



90 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

was out of Ills reach, invited him to come ashore, 
and treat for an accommodation ; and upon his 
refusal offered to go on board, when Hojeda sending 
his boat well manned, Roldan and six or seven of 
his followers entered it, and when it was least 
suspected, fell upon Hojeda's men, made them- 
selves masters of the boat, and returned with it to 
land, which obliged Hojeda to submit to a treaty, 
and to give security that he would depart from the 
island. 

Soon after another commotion was raised by 
Ferdinand Guevara, who was in disgrace with the 
admiral for being concerned in the late sedition, 
and being exasperated against Roldan for not 
permitting him to marry the Queen of Xaragua s 
daughter, he entered into a conspiracy with one 
Adrian de Moxica, and, having engaged many 
people in his interest, resolved to surprise and 
murder the alcade. But Roldan, being informed 
of their proceedings, took his .measures so well 
that he seized the chief conspirators, and when 
ordered by the admiral to punish them according 
to law, proceeded to a fair trial, in consequence 
of which Moxica was hanged, some of the con- 
federates banished, and others sent to prison. 

This example had such an effect that tran» 
quillity was restored throughout the whole island ; 
and about this time such rich gold mines were 
discovered that every man left the king's pay, and 
went to dig on his own account, allowing the king 
one-third of all that was found. In this employ- 
ment they met with such success that one man 



WESTEEN WORLD. 91 

would sometimes gather forty ounces in a day, and 
a lump of pure gold was found that weighed a 
hundred and ninety-six ducats. 

While Cokimbus was thus exerting all his pru- 
dence, and exercising his humanity in appeasing 
the troubles of Hispaniola, he little thought what a 
storm was rising against him at home. A number of 
malcontentents had been sent to Spain during the 
rebellion, who represented him as an insolent alien, 
ignorant of the laws and customs of the Spanish 
nation ; oppressive and cruel in his disposition ; 
elated with the dignity to which he had been 
raised; and so avaricious and unjust, that he not 
only withheld the pay due to the servants of the 
government, but embezzled the riches of the island. 
They inveighed with still greater bitterness against 
his brother the lieutenant ; nor did Diego escape 
the utmost virulence of their censure. These in- 
vectives being spread abroad by the friends of those 
who had been the disturbers of the peace of His- 
paniola, and encouraged by many persons at court, 
who envied Columbus's success and reputation, 
such a clamour was raised in Castile, that the king 
and queen were daily surrounded in the streets, 
and even in the palace, by people demanding 
justice against that proud and tyrannical foreigner, 
who had oppressed so many Castilians, and dis- 
covered a mischievous oountrvi to be the ruin 
and grave of the Spanish gentry. The favourites 
at court joining the importunities of the people, 
their majesties sent an inspector-general to His- 
paniola, with power to inquire into the admiral's 



i 



92 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

conduct, and if he sliould be found guilty to send 
him home, while the inspector was to remain 
governor of the island in his room. Francis de 
Bovadilla, a knight of the order of Calatrava, but 
in very low circumstances, was chosen for this high 
office ; and, being furnished with full powers, 
arrived at St. Domingo in the latter end of August 
1500, while the admiral was at Conception with 
most of the people of conseq^uence, settling the 
affairs of that province. 

Bovadilla, finding nobody at St. Domingo who 
could be a check upon his conduct, immediately 
took possession of the admiral's palace, seized his 
effects, assembled all who were disaffected to the 
brothers, declared himself governor, despatched 
orders to the admiral to repair to him without 
delay ; and, to enforce this summons, sent him the 
king and queen's letter, which contained no more 
than that their majesties had sent the bearer to 
acquaint Columbus with their pleasure, which he 
was directed to obey, and this order was signed 
both by the king and queen. 

Columbus, immediately on receiving this letter, 
set out for St. Domingo to wait upon Bovadilla, 
who, without any legal information, sent him and 
his brother Diego on board a ship, where they 
were laid in irons, placed under a strong guard, 
and excluded from intercourse with any one. A 
process was then begun against them, and all their 
enemies being admitted as evidences, their deposi- 
tions were so malicious, incoherent, and absurd, 
that no one, who had not determined at all events 



WESTEEN WOELD. 93 

to ruin the accused, would have paid the least 
regard to their allegations. Bovadilla, however, on 
this occasion countenanced the raost flagrant per- 
juries, and even encouraged the rabble to insult the 
prisoners, by blowing horns at the port where the 
ships lay at anchor, and by reading scandalous 
libels in the market-place. The lieutenant, who 
had not yet returned from Xaragua, might pro- 
bably have rescued his brothers by force of arms, 
had not the admiral ordered him to submit quietly 
to their majesties' authority, vested in the person of 
the new governor, who had no sooner laid his in- 
junction on Andrew Martin, the captain of the 
ship, to deliver the admiral in irons to the Bishop 
de Fonseca, by whose direction he acted, than he 
began to embezzle the treasure, squander the king's 
revenue amongst his crea^tures, oppress and plunder 
the Indians, countenance the greatest profligacy, 
and destroy all the prudent regulations established 
by the admiral. 

Andrew. Martin was no sooner out at sea, than, 
ashamed at seeing the brave Columbus in this dis- 
graceful situation, he would have knocked off his 
irons ; but Columbus resolved to wear them during 
hLs whole passage, and to keep them ever after as 
a memorial of the reward he had obtained for his 
services ; and indeed these fetters he always pre- 
served in his own chamber, and, at his request, 
they were at length buried in the same coffin with 
his body. 

On the 20th of November, 1500, he wrote to 
their Catholic majesties to acquaint them with his 



94 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

arrival afc Cadiz; upon which they gave im- 
mediate orders for his being released, sent him 
very gracious letters, in which they expressed their 
sorrow for his sufferings, and invited him to court, 
promising that he should soon be sent out again^ 
and fully restored to his honours. 

On his arrival at Granada, the king and queen 
gave him a favourable reception, and expressed 
their displeasure at the author of his imprisonment, 
who had acted thus without their orders, and pro- 
mised that he should have full satisfaction. Mean- 
while they directed his affair to be examined, and 
the accasations against him plainly appearing 
malicious and frivolous, he was honourably ac- 
quitted ; and at the same time a new governor of 
Hispaniola was appointed, in order to redress the 
admiral's grievances, and oblige Bovadilla to restore 
what he had unjustly seized. This commission 
was granted to Nicholas de Obando, commendary 
of laws, a man of abilities, but crafty, cruel, and 
revengeful, who afterwards exercised great bar- 
barity upon the natives and their chiefs. 

It was at the same time resolved to send the 
admiral upon some voyage that might turn to his 
advantage, and keep him employed, till Obando 
could settle the affairs of Hispaniola ; but there 
being some delay in the execution of this design, 
and the admiral being apprehensive of future dis- 
grace, from the indefatigable efforts of his enemies 
at court, desired to be excused from embarking, 
and entreated their majesties to defend him against 



WESTERN VroELD. 95 

all dangers. This procured him a very favourable 
answer, and soon after the most advantageous 
grants and concessions, which made him resolve 
once more to expose his life in another voyage to 
the IndieS; in order to perfect his discoveries. 



96 DISCOVERIES IN THE 



CHAPTER TV. 

An account of discoveries made by other Spaniards, while 
Columbus was engaged in his third voyage. 

Befoii"s we proceed to Columbus's next voyage, 
it is proper that we should give some accoaut of the 
discoveries, whether real or pretended, that were 
made before he again set sail for America. Alonzo 
Hojeda, who has been already mentioned in the 
course of this narrative, and Americus Vespucius, 
obtained from the Bishop of Burgos the drafts 
and plan which, by their majesties' order. Columbus 
had deposited in the hands of that prelate, who, 
out of hatred to that great commander, and to rob 
him if possible of his credit and reputation, gave 
them up without the knowledge of the king and 
queen. The licences he gave these adventurers 
were also clandestine. They set sail from Cadiz 
on the 20th of May, 1499, and steered directly in 
search of the continent, pursuant to the admiral's 
scheme, which before this time he had actually 
carried into execution. This was the first voyage 
made by Americus Vespucius, and though he 
now only touched at that part of the continent 
which had been visited by the admiral, yet he 
impudently pretended to discover it ; and, by con- 
founding this with a voyage he afterwards made 
into those parts, dressed up a plausible story, and, 



WESTERN" WOKLD. 97 

being an excellent geographer and draftsman, im- 
posed upon the greatest part of Em'ope. In Spain, 
however, he was soon detected ; for, pretending 
that he returned directly to that kingdom after a 
voyage of thirteen months spent in discoveries, 
Hqjeda made oath that only five months w^ere 
spent in the voyage, and that, finding themselves 
short of provisions^ they sailed to Hispaniola for a 
supply. 

It was no sooner known that Alonzo Hojeda 
and Americus Vespucius had obtained the above 
licences, than others resolved to make use of the 
same interest, in order to acquire a share of the 
riches of the New World ; and a company was 
formed by some of the inhabitants of Seville, the 
principal of whom were Peter Alonzo Nino of Palos, 
who was with the admiral when he discovered 
Paria, and Christopher Guerre of Seville. 

Nino, having obtained the king's licence, upon 
condition of not coming to anchor, or landing 
within fifty leagues of any place discovered by 
Columbus, set sail soon after Hojeda and Vespucius, 
discovered land, and arrived at the province of 
Paria a few days after them ; where, finding the 
Indians behave peaceably, contrary to his instruc- 
tions, he landed and cut Brazil wood, and then, con- 
tinuing his course, came to what Columbus had 
called the Bay of Pearls, formed by the island of 
Margarita and the continent, which he had visited 
in 1498. 

The people here went on board Nino's ships 
without any apprehensions^ carrying pearl neck- 

H 



93 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

laces, and wearing jewels in their noses and ears ; 
for which the Spaniards gave them hawks' bells, 
bracelets, rings, and several trifles made of tin. 
Having thus pmxhased a considerable quantity of 
valuable pearls, the Spaniards passed by Coro, 
near the province now called Venezuela, one 
hundred and thirty leagues below Paria and the 
Dragon's Mouth, and anchored in a bay where 
they were well received by fifty men, who came 
from a place at a league's distance, and very 
earnestly pressed them to anchor off their town : 
upon which the Spaniards gave them some toys, 
and the Indians taking off all the pearls they had 
about their necks and arms, in the space of an 
hour gave them in return as many as weighed 
fifteen ounces. 

The next day the Spaniards came to an anchor 
before a town called Curiana, where the Indians 
made signs to them to come on shore; however, 
being not more than thirty-three men, tbey would 
not venture, but by their signs invited the Indians 
to come on board, which they did in their canoes, 
carrying pearls, which they freely exchanged for 
toys ; whereupon the Spaniards, convinced of their 
'sincerity, landed and stayed twenty days on shore, 
during which time they were courteously entertained 
'with venison, rabbits, geese, ducks, parrots, fish, and 
bread made of maize. They perceived that the 
natives kept markets or fairs; that they had 
earthen jars, dishes, and other vessels of different 
shapes ; and that in their pearl necklaces they had 
frogs and other creatures made of gold. They 



"WESTERN WORLD. 89 

asked by signs where that metal was gathered, and 
were answered in the same manner, that it was got 
six days' journey from thence, at a place called 
Curiana Cauchcito. 

The Spaniards in consequence sailed thither, 
and found the people very tractable ; for they came 
on board in their canoes without the least fear, 
and bartered with them for wrought and un- 
wrought gold^ though they would not part, with 
their pearls. They also gave them some monkeys^ 
and very beautiful parrots of various colours. 

Leaving this place they proceeded further ; but, 
as they approached the shore, above five thousand 
naked men came armed with bows and arrows to 
oppose their landing ; and, though they strove to 
please them by shewing them hawks' bells and 
other things, they could not prevail^ and therefore 
returned to Curiana, where they were received with 
the same satisfaction as before. The Indians now 
traded with them for pins and needles, which the 
Spaniards shewed them would be of use in draw- 
ing the thorns out of their feet when they hap- 
pened to tread upon them. The Indians were 
highly pleased, thinking they had made very 
advantageous bargains with the Spaniards, who 
carried away above twelve thousand ounces of 
pearls, some of which were very beautiful and well 
coloared, and as large as small hazel-nuts ; but 
they were ill bored, the Indians having no iron. 
The Spaniards were now so well satisfied with the 
success of their voyage, that they resolved to return 
home; and arrived in Galicia on the 6th of 



100 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

February, 1500, two months after they left Curiana, 
when Nino and Christopher Guerre, who shared 
in the expense and profits of the voyage, were 
accused before the governor, by their own sliip's 
crew, of having defrauded the king of his portion, 
which was the fifth part. 

The great riches which the adventurers gained by 
this voyage promoted the spirit of discoveiy, more 
especially among such as knew the proposals made 
by Columbus, or had served under him in his first 
two voyages. Of these none w^as so capable of 
prosecuting them as Vincent Yanez Pinzon, of 
whom we have already spoken. He had a liberal 
education, great courage, and a large fortune ; he 
therefore fitted out, at his own expense, a squadron 
of four stout ships, with which h^ sailed to the 
Cape de Verd Islands, where he took in provisions, 
and steered from St. Jago about the year 1500, first 
standing to the south and then to the west, and 
w^as the first subject of the crown of Castile and 
Leon that crossed the Equinoctial. 

Pinzon had hardly passed the line when he 
met with a dreadful storm, in which all on board 
expected to perish. However, having run two 
hundred and forty leagues farther to the westward, 
on the 26th of February they discovered land at a 
great distance, w^hich he called Cabo de Consolation, 
or Cape Comfort,* and sounding, had fourteen 
fathoms water. Captain Pinzon going on shore, 
took possession of the country in the name of their 
Catholic majesties, and endeavoured to the utmost 
* It is now calledvCape St. Augustiue. 



WESTERN WORLD. 101 

of his power, though without effect^ to induce the 
people to trade with him ; for the natives being 
obstinate, and having no good opinion of their 
invaders, an engagement ensued, in which some 
were slain on both sides. 

This made Pinzon resolve to retire and continue 
his voyage, which he did to the mouth of the river 
Maranon, where ho observed a mighty struggle 
between the tide of salt water coming in, and a 
vast current of fresh water pouring down from the 
land. The country at the mouth of this river he 
found well inhabited on both sides ; but not being 
able to persuade the inhabitants to trafiSc, he 
resolved without farther delay to proceed towards 
Paria. 

On his arrival at Paria he took in Brazil wood, 
and then struck over to the islands that lay in the 
way to Hispaniola. But when the ships were 
lying at anchor, there arose such a dreadful storm 
that two of the four sunk in sight of the others, 
with all the men; a third was forced from her 
anchors with eighteen men, and carried out of 
sight ; and the fourth, though she rode it out, beat 
so furiously, that the sailors, believing she would 
be dashed in pieces, went ashore in the long-boat, 
and had thoughts of murdering all the Indians 
they found, to prevent their calhng in their neigh- 
bours to destroy them ; but the shij) that had been 
driven to sea with the eighteen men returned, and 
the other which rode at anchor being saved, they 
sailed to Hispaniola, vv^here they refitted, and 
returned to Spain about the latter end of Sep- 



102 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

tember, after having discovered six hundred 
leagues of the coast of Paria. 

James de Lepe, a native of Palos, having heard 
of the expedition undertaken by Pinzon, ap- 
plied to the Earl of Miranda, his patron, and 
promised to perform wonders in case he would 
enable him to make the same voyage; his request 
was complied with, and he actually arrived at the 
mouth of the river Maranon soon after Pinzon had 
left it, The people being provoked at his seizing 
thirty-six men, and carrying them on board, vigo- 
rously attacked the Spaniards, and killed several of 
them, which obliged him to prosecute his voyage 
to Paria, where he also quarrelled with the inhabi- 
tants, and returned without making the least 
advantage of this expedition, except taking a few 
Indian prisoners. 

It is here proper to observe that Emanuel, King 
of Portugal, having sent a considerable fleet to the 
East Indies,* under the command of Peter Alvarez 
Cabral, in the year 1500, that admiral, sailing to 
the S. W. to avoid the calms on the coast of 
Guinea, was so fortunate as to discover Brazil, one 
of the richest provinces in South America, by mere 
accident. But it is now necessary to return to the 
discoveries made by the great Columbus, 

* The coast of India had been discovered by Yasco de Gama, 
in 1498, while Columbus was engaged in his third voyage to the 
West Indies. 



•VTESTERN WORLD. 103 



CHAPTER Y. 

Fourth Toyage — Columbus arrives at Hispaniola, and meets 
with the basest usage from Obando, the Dew governor — He 
leaves that Island, and prosecutes his discoveries along the 
coast of the Continent — Proceeds to the Isthmus of Darien — 
— Sails to the haven of Porto Bello — Sends a detachment up 
the river Yeragua to the Indian mines — Forms a settlement 
at the mouth of the river Belem — A cacique named Quibio 
attempts to set fire to the houses — Capture of the cacique — 
His singular escape, and attack upon the settlement — The new 
settlers rejoin the admiral — More suffering and hardships — The 
admiral runs the ships on shore on the coast of Jamaica — Sends 
two canoes to Hispaniola — The hardships in the voyage — 
Troubles in Jamaica — The Spaniards sail thence to His- 
paniola, and afterwards to Spain, where Columhus dies — His 
person and character. 

Columbus^ having received his instructions, sailed 
from Cadiz with four small ships, and one hundred 
and forty men, including boys ; on the 9th of 
May, 1502, he arrived at St. Catherine's, and 
departed thence on the 11th for Arzilla, a port 
town of Morocco, then subject to Portugal, and 
invested by the Moors. He sailed thither in order 
to relieve the Portuguese, who were reported to be 
in great distress ; but the Moors had raised the 
siege before his arrival. The admiral therefore sail- 
ed for Grand Canaria, where he arrived on the 20th, 
and, having taken in wood and water for the 
voyage, proceeded on the 25tli, in the evening, for 



104 DISCOYEEIES ES^ THE 

the West Indies, with so favourable a wind that 
on the 15th of June he arrived at the island of 
Martinico. He there took in a fresh supply of 
^vood and vraterj and then sailed by the Caribbee 
islands to St. Domingo in Hispaniola, ^yhere he 
intended to exchange one of his ships^ which was a 
bad sailer, in order to continue his voyage with 
less hindrance to the coast of Paria. in quest of a 
strait which he concluded was near the place, since 
called Veragua and Nombre de Dios. 

In order that the judge sent by their majesties 
to call Bovadilla to an account might not be sur- 
prised at his unexpected arrival, Columbus, on ap- 
jDroaching the port, despatched before him one of his 
captains, to signify the necessity of changing the 
ship, and to represent that, as he apprehended a 
great storm was approaching, he proposed to secure 
himself in that port, and desired that the home- 
ward bound fleet might not sail for eight days, by 
vrhich means it would avoid the danger to which it 
would otherwise be exposed. But so little inclined 
was this new governor to assist the admiral with 
another vessel, that he would not even allow him 
to enter the port ; and, disregarding his advice, 
permitted the fleet, in which were Roldan and all 
who had been in the rebellion, to put to sea. on 
their return to Spain. 

This fleet had no sooner weathered the east 
point of Hispaniola. than there arose so terrible a 
storm that the ship, in which were Bovadilla and 
most of the rebels, foundered, and the hurricane 
was so fatal to the rest, that of the eighteen ships 



TVESTEEN VrORLD. 105 

only four were saved. Meanwhile Columbus, who 
bad foreseen the sfcorm, and been refused admit- 
tance into an island which he had discovered^ and 
added to the dominions of Spain, sheltered himself 
under the land ; but the next day, the tempest in- 
creasing, three of Columbus's vessels were forced 
out to sea, when the Bermuda, the ship he wanted 
to exchange, would certainly have perished, had 
she not been preserved by the admirable skill of 
his brother Bartholomew, who was allowed to be 
the most expert seaman of his time. The ships 
being thus separated, each concluded that the 
other was lost, till in a few days they met again 
in the port of Azua. The admiral's satisfaction, 
however, was considerably diminished by the 
mortification he felt, upon reflecting that he had 
been denied shelter in a port where he had a 
right to command, and refused a privilege in his 
own island that is never denied to strangers 
However, the consequence of this storm furnisher 
his superstitious enemies with a pretence for say 
ing that he had raised it by magic, in order to 
destroy the fleet bound for Spain ; and what seem- 
ed to add weight to this ridiculous supposition 
was, that the only ship of the eighteen that arrived 
in Spain was the Aguja, on board of which were 
four thousand pesos of gold belonging to the ad- 
miral, while three others that resisted the fury of 
the waves were forced in a shattered condition back 
to St. Domingo. 

Columbus, while in the port of Azua. gave his 
men some refreshment after the storm, and allowed 



108 DISCOYEEIES IN THE 

them to divert themselves with fishing, in which 
they had good success ; amongst the fish they 
caught here, was one called the saavina, which 
as big as an ordinary church bell, and^ lyiiig asleep 
above water, was struck with an harping-iron by 
the crew in one of the boats. One end of this iron 
being fastened to a long rope, and the other to the 
boat, the fish drew the boat after it as swift as the 
flight of an arrow ; while those who were on board 
the ship, seeing the boat skim about, and not 
knowing the reason, were greatly astonished, till 
at last, the fish sinking, it was drawn to the ship's 
side and bawled up by the tackle. They also 
caught in the same bay the manatee, or sea-cow, 
an amphibious animal, whose flesh was compared 
by the people on board to that of veal. 

Columbus, having here repaired the damage his 
ships had sustained by the storm, sailed in order 
to make discoveries on the continent, and reached 
the islands of Guania, near the province now called 
Honduras, where Bartholomew Columbus, going 
ashore with two boats, saw a great number of pine- 
trees and pieces of lapis calaminaris^ which, being 
mixed with copper, some of the seamen mistook 
for gold. 

V/hile the admiral's brother was at this island, 
and was very desirous of knowing what it contain- 
ed, he observed approaching the shore a canoe 
made of one tree, as long as a galley ; it was eight 
feet wide, and had an awning of palm leaves in the 
middle, not unlike those of the Venetian gondolas. 
Under this covering the women, children, and all the 



^VESTERX WOELD. 107 

goods were sheltered from the weather ; and, though 
there were twenty-five men on board the canoe, 
they had not the courage to defend themselves 
against the boats, but, being pursued^ were taken 
without opposition. The admiral was rejoiced at 
having obtained an opportunity of discovering the 
commodities of the continent without exposing 
his men to danger ; and, having given orders for 
examining the cargo, there were found quilts, and 
a kind of shirts without sleeves, made of cotton, 
curiously wrought and dyed of different colours ; 
some small clothes of the same sort, to be worn 
about the middle, with large sheets in which the 
women on board wrapped themselves ; large wooden 
swords, edged on each side with sharp flints fixed 
in grooves with thread and a bituminous matter ; 
and also hatchets made of copper; bells of the 
same metal, with plates and crucibles for melting 
it. As for the provisions, they consisted of the 
same kind of roots and grain as were eaten in His- 
paniola, and a sort of liquor, resembling English 
beer, made of maize. They had also a considerable 
number of cocoa-nuts, upon which they seemed to 
set a great value ; for, notwithstanding the con- 
sternation with which they were seized at finding 
themselves prisoners aboard the ship, they never 
failed, when one of these nuts chanced to fall upon 
the deck, to stoop and take it up with eagerness, 
as if it were something of consequence. They 
behaved with extraordinary propriety, and seemed 
to have some sense of modesty, with which the 
admiral was so pleaced that he ordered them to be 



103 DISCOVEKIES IX THE 

well used ; gave them European commodities Iq 
exchange for such of their goods as he thought 
proper to retain, and then, restoring their canoe, 
suffered them to depart. He however kept an old 
man, who seemed both the wisest and the chief man 
of the company, in order to learn something of the 
countrj', and to draw others to converse with the 
Christians, which he faithfully did as long as they 
sailed where his language was understood ; and, 
when he could be no longer serviceable, he was 
dismissed with a present, and sent home highly 
pleased. 

Though the admiral was told by this Indian of 
the great wealth, cultivation, and ingenuity of the 
peaple westward tovrards Mexico, yet knowing that, 
as that country lay to the leeward, he could sail 
thither from Cuba whenever he thought fit, he 
resolved at present to persist in his design of dis- 
covering a strait in the continent through which 
he expected to find the East Indies, and in par- 
ticular the country that produced spices. lie 
accordingly sailed towards Darien, where he was 
told, that he should find this strait ; but the 
Indians meant an isthmus or neck of land, which 
he mistook for a passage extending from sea to sea. 
In quest of this strait he sailed towards a point on 
the continent to which he gave the name of 
Casinas, from finding there a great number of trees 
bearing a fruit so called by the natives of Hispa- 
niola ; and near this cape saw people who wore 
painted tunics, or shirts made of cotton, so thick 
and strong as to defend them against the weapons 



WESTERN WORLD. 109 

used in that country, and even to bear off the stroke 
of some of ours. Farther to the eastward he found 
the natives of a fierce aspect, and of a savage dis- 
position ; they went entirely naked ; eat flesh and 
fish raw as it was taken, and made holes in their 
ears, which they stretched by their pendants so 
wade, that a hen's egg might be passed through 
them, from which circumstance the admiral de- 
nominated the coast De las Orejas, or, " Coast of the 
Ears.'' 

On the 14th of August, in the morning, Bartho- 
lomew Columbus went ashore upon this coast to 
hear mass, with the colours flying, and attended by 
the captains and many of the men ; and, a few days 
after, he again landed to take possession of the 
country for their Catholic majesties, when about 
one hundred Indians, loaded with provisions, ran 
towards the shore, but on the approach of the boats 
suddenly retired without speaking a word. The 
lieutenant, perceiving their timidity, desired the 
interpreter to allure them with bells, beads, and 
other toys, with which they were so well pleased 
that they returned in greater numbers the next 
day, with several sorts of provisions, fowls, which 
were better than those of Europe, broiled fish, and 
red and white beans. The country was low, green 
and beautiful, and produced abundance of pines, 
oaks, palm-trees, and mirabolans, with all the fruits 
that w^ere to be found on the island of Hispaniola ; 
there were also deer, leopards, and other animals. 
The inhabitants were like those of the islands, only 
their foreheads were not so high j for the most part 



110 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

they went naked except a cloth round their waists, 
but those of distinction wore red and white cotton 
cloths about their heads; and some had a short 
jacket without sleeves that reached to the waist. 
Their arms and bodies were ornamented with differ- 
ent figures wrought into the skin by pricking it; and 
on festival days they painted their faces of various 
colours, which made them look extremely terrible. 
They seemed to have no rehgion, and every nation 
spoke a peculiar language. 

From Cape Casinas the admiral was seventy 
days in sailing sixty leagues to the eastward, the 
wind and current being contrary all the time. 
But, as there was good riding along the coast, he 
tacked to and fro, and every night dropped anchor 
under the land ; at length he reached a cape to 
which he ga-ve the name of Gracias a Dios, or 
'•Thanks to God;'' because from that place the 
land, turning off to the south, enabled him to prose- 
cute his voyage with a trade wind. However, a 
little beyond this headland he passed some dan- 
gerous sands, which for a considerable way ran out 
to sea. 

On the 16th of September, being in want of 
wood and water, Columbus sent the boats into a 
river that seemed to have a deep and good en- 
trance ; but on their return, as the wind was blow- 
ing from the sea, and the waves running high 
against the current of the river, one of the boats 
with all her men was lost, when the admiral called 
this Rio de la Disgracia, or the '^ Eiver of Disaster.'' 
Still running to the southward, on the 25th they 



WESTEEN WORLD. Ill 

anchored near a little island called Quiriviri, and 
a town on the continent named Coriari, which is 
situated near a great river, to the banks of which a 
multitude of people resorted : some with bows and 
arrows, others with staves^ of a wood as black as 
jet, as hard as iron, and pointed with fish-bones ; 
while others came with clubs. They seemed to 
have assembled with the intention of defending 
their country from invasion ; but, observing the 
pacific disposition of the Spaniards, they were very 
desirous of bartering their commodities with them, 
which consisted of arms, cotton jackets, and pieces 
of pale gold which they wore about their necks. 
With these things they swam to the boats, for 
the Spaniards did not go ashore that day or the 
next ; nor would the admiral allow his people to 
take their goods in exchange, but he presented them 
with several baubles. Yet the less the Spaniards 
seemed to regard traffic, the greater eagerness the 
natives discovered for it, and made many signs for 
them to come ashore ; but these proving ineffec- 
tual, they retired, leaving all the things they had 
received on the shore, where they were found by 
the Spaniards when they afterwards landed. The 
Indians at length, supposing that the Spaniards 
did not confide in their sincerity, sent an old man 
of strange appearance, carrying a flag upon a stafP, 
attended by two young girls with pieces of gold 
about their necks. These, by the old man's desii'e, 
were conducted by the boat's crew aboard the 
admiral, who ordered them to be clothed and 
fed, and had them set on shore, where they were re- 



112 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

ceived with much satisfaction by the old man^ and 
fifty of the natives. 

Bartholomew Columbus going ashore the next 
day, in order to learn something of the country, 
two of the chief men came to the boat, and, taking 
him by the arms, made him sit down between 
them. In this situation he began to interrogate 
them by signs, and ordered his secretary to write 
down what were supposed to be their answers ; 
but they no sooner saw the pen, ink, and paper, 
than they were in such consternation that most of 
them ran away, imagining perhaps that these were 
implements of sorcery; for they had performed 
some ceremonies of exorcism before they approached 
the Spaniards, scattering a powder in the air, and 
burning some of the same powder, and endeavour- 
ing to make the smoke fly towards the Christians. 

A few days after, the admiral desired his brother 
to go ashore with several men to view the town, 
and obtain some knowledge of the country. The 
most remarkable things he observed were several 
tombs, in a great wooden structure covered with 
canes, in one of which w^as a dead body embalmed ; 
in another, two bodies wrapped up in cotton sheets, 
and over each tomb was a board, upon which were 
carved the figures of beasts, and on some of them 
the eflSgies of the deceased, adorned with plates of 
gold about their necks, and other ornaments. 

These being the most civilized Indians in those 
parts, the admiral ordered some of them to be 
taken ; of these he chose two who seemed to be the 
most intelligent, the rest he sent away with 



WESTERN WO RLD. 113 

some presents and great civility. Endeavours 
were used to make them sensible that their com- 
panions were detained for no other reason than to 
serve as guides upon that coast, and that in a little 
time they would be set at liberty ; but, the natives 
believing they were detained through avarice, a 
number of them came down to the shore the next 
day, and sent four persons on board to treat for 
their ransom, with a present of two very small 
wild hogs. Columbus caused these deputies to 
be entertained with great respect, and, though 
he would not grant their request, he sent them 
away well satisfied, and amply paid for the hogs ; 
one of which was hunted on the deck by a kind 
of wild-cat of a greyish colour, that had been 
caught in the woods by one of the sailors after he 
had cut off one of its fore-legs. This animal leapt 
like a squirrel from tree to tree, and not only 
fastened upon the branches with its claws, but even 
with its tail, by which it frequently suspended 
itself either for sport or rest. The hogs, though 
naturally very fierce, no sooner saw this cat 
than they ran terrified about the deck ; and the 
admiral, perceiving their fright, ordered one of 
them to be brought near it, when it instantly 
twisted its tail round the hog's snout, and fastening 
the fore-leg that remained upon its head, would 
soon have despatched it had not the men inter- 
posed. 

On the 5th of October the admiral sailed into 
the bay of Caravaro, which is six leagues in length, 
and about three in breadth. Here they found . 

I 



114 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

many small islands, with channels between them, 
through some of which the ships sailed as it were 
in lanes, the trees on each side brushing against 
the shrouds. As soon as they anchored in this 
bay, the boats were sent to one of the islands, 
where there were twenty canoes on the shore, the 
people lying near them quite naked, having only a 
gold plate about their necks. They expressed no 
signs of fear, bat for three bells gave a gold plate 
that weighed ten ducats, and said there was great 
abundance of that metal at a small distance from 
the shore on the continent. 

The next day the boats were sent on shore upon 
the continent, and in their way met with two 
canoes full of people, who, refusing to barter their 
gold plates, two of the chief persons among them 
were taken, in order that the admiral might ob- 
tain some intelligence from them by means of the 
Cariari interpreters. The gold plate worn by one 
of these m.en weighed fourteen ducats, and by the 
other twenty-two ; these confirmed what the island- 
ers had said of the gold, which was to be found at 
the distance of two days' journey up in the country. 
In this bay they took great numbers of fish, and 
on shore they found a large quantity of fresh pro- 
visions, and also great abundance of roots and 
fruit. The men were painted all over of diff^erent 
colours, red, black, and white, and had no other 
covering besides a narrow cotton cloth which hung 
round the waist. 

From this bay the admiral sailed into another 
very near it, and on the 17th pursued his voyage 



WESTERN WORLD. 115 

twelve leagues farther to the river Guaiga ; when, 
upon ordering out the boats to go ashore^ the men 
were furiously assaulted by above one hundred 
Indians, w^ho ran up to their middle into the sea, 
brandishing their lances, blowing horns, and throw- 
ing sea-water towards the Spaniards, at whom 
they also spurted the juice of some shrubs they 
were chewing, with signs of detestation and de- 
fiance. The Spaniards, without either approaching 
or retreating, endeavoured to appease them, which 
at length they effected, and at last exchanged 
sixteen gold plates, worth one hundred and sixty 
ducats, for a few bells and other baubles. How- 
ever, notwithstanding this friendly intercourse, the 
next day the natives lay in ambush for the boats-; 
but, perceiving that nobody would venture to 
land, they rushed into the water as before, and. 
even threatened to throw their javelins, provided 
the boats that lay upon their oars did not return 
to their ships. The Spaniards -at length, exaspe- 
rated at this insolent behaviour, wounded one af 
the natives with an arrow ; and at the same time 
the admiral, firing one of his guns, so terrified 
them that they fled with precipitation ; when four 
men landing invited them by signs to return, upon 
which, laying down their arms, they came back, 
and very peaceably exchanged their gold plates. 

The admiral then proceeded on his voyage, 
and casting anchor in the mouth of a great river, 
the people of the country were seen to assemble, 
and soon after sent two men in a canoe to the 
sliips, who, having talked with the Cariari inter- 



116 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

preterSj came aboard without any apprehension, 
and by their advice the Indians gave their gold 
plates to the admiral, who in return presented 
them with some trifles. This canoe having re- 
turned, another, appeared with three men, who 
behaved in the same manner ; and, amity being 
thus established, the Spaniards went ashore, where 
they found a greater number of Indians with their 
king, who only differed from the rest by being 
covered with a large leaf of a tree, because it then 
rained very hard. This prince, to set his subjects 
an example, exchanged his plate, and bid them 
barter for theirs; which they instantly did, and 
the Spaniard_s received nineteen plates of pure 
gold. Here they saw an old wall, which seemed 
to be built with stone and lime ; and this, being 
the first part of the Indies where Columbus 
had discovered signs of a solid and regular struc- 
ture, he brought away a piece of it as a memorial. 
The admiral, now sailing with a fresh gale to 
the eastward, held on his course to, five towns of 
great trade, among which was Veragua, where 
the Indians said the gold was gathered, and the 
plates were made, which they wore about their 
necks; and, continuing his voyage, he arrived at 
a harbour to which he gave the name of Porto 
Bello, or " Beautiful Port," from its being very 
spacious, and encompassed by a fine and populous 
country. He entered this harbour on the 2nd 
of November, passing between two small islands, 
within which the ships lay close to the shore, 
where he was obliged, by the rain and bad weather, 



WESTERN WORLD. 117 

to continue seven days, during which he was con- 
stantly visited by the people in canoes, who came 
from the adjacent country to barter fine spun 
cotton and provisions for pins, points, and other 
trifles. 

On the 9th he sailed eight leagues to the east- 
ward ; but the next day was forced four leagues 
back by stress of weather, and having put in among 
the islands near the continent where the town of 
Nombre de Dios now stands, called the place 
Puerto de Bastimentos, or the " Port of Provisions,-' 
because all those small islands were covered with 
corn. Here a boat well manned being sent in 
pursuit of a canoe, the Indians were so frightened 
that they threw themselves into the sea, and swam 
away, notwithstanding all the endeavours of the 
Spaniards to take some of them ; for when a boat 
approached any of these Indians he dived like a 
duck, and came up at the distance of a bow-shot. . 

Columbus stayed here refitting the ships till the 
23d of November, when he continued his course 
eastward, trading with the Indians on the coast 
for provisions, and such pieces of gold as hung at 
their ears and noses. On the 24th he entered a 
small port, which he named the Eetreat, because 
it was able to contain no more than five or six ships, 
and was only fifteen or twenty paces wide at the 
mouth. On both sides the rocks appeared above 
water, but the channel between them was so deep 
as not to be fathomed, though if the ships inclined 
to either side the men might leap on shore. The 
admiral was induced to enter this confined har- 



118 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

bour by the misrepresentations of tbose who were 
sent to view it, who, to gratify their avarice in 
dealing with the Indians, were glad of lying close 
to the shore, in order to have a constant opportunity 
of changing trifles for gold. 

The Indians at first came very familiarly to trade 
with the ships, until, being provoked by the inso- 
lent and dissolute behaviour of the seamen, they 
began to have recourse to arms, and some skir- 
mishes passed between them. As their numbers 
daily increased, their courage rose in proportion, 
and they at length seemed resolved to board the 
ships, when the admiral, having in vain attempted 
to appease th^m by patience and acts of civility, 
found that he was obliged to alter his behaviour, 
in order to convince them of his importance, and 
therefore commanded some of his guns to be fired; 
this noise, which they found unattended with any 
consequences, gave them no apprehension, and 
they answered it with shouts, and beating the 
trees with staves, and by threatening signs shewed 
that -they did not fear. Upon this, Columbus 
ordered one of the guns to be loaded vdth ball, 
and fired. at a company of the Indians assembled 
upon a small eminence, when the ball, falling in 
the midst of them, made them sensible that he 
could make use of a thunderbolt as well as of 
thunder ; for they fled with such consternation 
that afterwards they did not dare to appear, even 
on the mountains. 

These were the best-shaped Indians of any they 
had yet seen, being tall and slender. The country 



WESTERN WORLD. 119 

affarded but few trees and little grass, and in the 
harbour there were very large alligators, which 
went upon the shore to sleep, whence they diffused 
so strong a scent, that it seemed as if all the musk 
in tlie world was gathered together. If they found 
a man sleeping, they would drag him to the water 
to devour him, but were fearful and timorous when 
attacked. 

The ships had been nine days confined here by 
bad weather, when Columbus, perceiving that vio - 
lent winds from the east and north-east continued 
to blow without ceasing, and that it was impos- 
rible to trade any longer with the inhabitants of 
this coast, resolved to return, in order to obtain 
satisfactory information about what he had heard 
of the mines of Veragua : and, on the 5th of 
December, he sailed back to Porto Bello. The 
next day, while he held on his course, the wind 
shifted to the west ; however, not thinking this a 
settled gale, he bore up against it for some days, 
during which the weather was so extremely unruly 
and unsettled, that the sailors could scarcely stand 
upon deck: they had heavy rains, the air was 
filled with lightning, and the thunder roared in- 
cessantly. The men, who were constantly wet to 
the skin, and exposed to all the violence of the 
storm, began to be terrified and filled with despair, 
especially when they found that, when the weather 
seemed a little to favour their sailing to Veragua^ 
the wind veered about, and drove them towards 
Porto Bello, and when they were in hope of entering 
that harbour they were beaten off again. In the 



120 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

midst of this danger and distraction^ they were 
very near being overwhelmed by a watei-spout ; 
and, to complete their misfortunes^ they lost sight 
of one of the ships, which they concluded was lost, 
till they saw her again at the end of three dark 
and dismal days, in which she had been obliged to 
cast anchor, and had afterwards been driven to sea 
with the loss of her anchor and boat. 

The men were now not only quite exhausted 
with cold, hunger, and fatigue, but the ships almost 
shattered to pieces by the tempest, when they were 
relieved by a calm which lasted two days, daring 
which they were surrounded by a prodigious num- 
ber of sharks, that bit freely at the hook, though 
baited only with a red rag. They had a dreadful 
appearance to the superstitious sailors, who ima- 
gined that, as the ravens are said to smell out 
dead bodies at a great distance, so these ravenous 
fish were an omen of their destruction, and were 
ready to devour them as soon as the ship should 
fall to pieces. Many of these fish were caught, 
and from the belly of one of them was taken an 
entire turtle, and from another the whole head of a 
shark, which the sailors had caught and thrown 
into the sea ; so that individuals of this species 
seem to prey upon each other. The sailors, how- 
ever, in spite of their apprehensions, and notwith- 
standing this fish was allowed to make a very 
indiff'erent meal, eat them with great eagerness ; 
for they had been now eight months at sea, and 
had consumed all their provisions except their 
biscuits, part of which were so full of maggots 



WESTERN WORLD. 121 

that many delayed cutting them till it was dark, to 
avoid seeing what they were obliged to swallow. 

On the 17th of December, the admiral entered 
a large harbour, w^here he permitted his men to 
repose for three days ; during which, on going 
ashore, they found that the inhabitants lived in 
huts built upon the tops of trees, sticks being laid 
from bough to bough, and the huts erected upon 
them: a custom w4iich must have arisen from the 
fear of wild beasts, or of land-floods. 

In the beginning of January, 1503, they cast 
anchor near a river, which the admiral named 
Belem or Bethlem, from his arriving there on the 
feast of the Epiphany. To the westward of this 
river was that of Veragua, the w^ater of which 
w^as shallow ; however, the boats w^ent up it to the 
town, where they were informed that they would 
find the gold mines of Veragua, so often mentioned. 
The Indians at first stood upon their guard, in order 
to oppose the landing of the Spaniards ; but an In- 
dian interpreter going ashore, and representing 
them in a favourable light, the natives were pacified, 
and exchanged with them twenty gold plates, some 
hollow pieces of the same metal like joints of reeds, 
and some grains of gold that had never been 
melted ; but, to enhance their value, they pretended 
they were gathered upon certain mountains at a 
great distance. 

On the 9th, the admiral's ship, attended by one 
of the others, sailed up the river Belem, when the 
Indians soon came to barter with the Spaniards, 
bringing fish, which at some seasons of the year 



122 DISCOYEPcIES IX THE 

come up these rivers in incredible numbers ; tbey 
exchanged some gold for pins, beads, and hawks' 
bellsj and the next daj they were joined by the two 
other ships that had stayed behind for want of 
water. 

On the third day after their arrival, Bartholomew 
Columbus went up the river with the boats to a 
town belonging to a cacique named Qnibio, who. 
having heard of the lieutenant's design, came in 
his canoe to meet him. Having received each 
other in a friendly manner, they discoursed by 
means of their interpreter for a long time. The 
next day the same prince visited the admiral, 
made him some presents, and after a conversation 
which lasted an hour, during which his people ex- 
changed some gold for bells, retired well pleased 
with his reception. 

They had lived five days in this friendly manner, 
when the river suddenly swelled to such a surpris- 
ing height, and rushed down with such impetuosity, 
that the admiral's ship parted her cable, and, run- 
ning foul of the Galega, both vessels were in danger 
of perishing. This sudden swell of the river was 
supposed to proceed from a violent shower that 
had fallen upon the mountains of Veragua, w4iich 
the admiral named St. Christopher's, from their 
tops reaching above the clouds. On the 6th of 
February, the ships being caulked and refitted, the 
admiral sent his brother with sixty-eight men in 
boats to the river Veragua, the mouth of which was 
at a league's distance from that of Belem; ha\ung 
rowed up, they arrived at the cacique's town, where 



^YESTERN WORLD. 123 

they stayed a whole day, inquiring the way to tlie 
mines. la consequence of the intelligence they 
received, the next day they travelled- four leagues 
and a half, and came to a river which, on account 
of its windings, they passed forty-four times; the 
day following they arrived at the place to which 
thev were directed, and in two hours' time every 
man had gathered some gold about the roots of the 
trees, which were very thick, and of a prodigious 
height. This sample was much valued, as none of 
those who went had any tools to dig, nor had they 
before ever gathered any. As the sole aim of this 
expedition was to obtain information relative to 
the mines, they returned well pleased to the ships, 
though, as they afterwards learned, the place they 
called the mines, from which they had picked gold, 
were not those of Veragua, which lay much nearer, 
but of Urira, a town belonging to a people at w^ar 
with the cacique Quibio, who had artfully directed 
the Spaniards to his enemies' mines instead of his 
own. 

On the 14th of February, the admiral's brother 
went into the country with forty men, followed by 
a boat with fourteen, and marched to the river oi 
drira, seven leagues west of Belem. The next day 
they were met by the cacique, attended by twenty 
men, who made them a present of provisions and 
some gold plates. During this interview the 
Indians chewed a dry herb, and sometimes added 
to it a sort of powder. Having rested a while in 
this place, the Spaniards and Indians went together 
to the town, whence numbers of people came out 



124 DISCOVERIES m THE 

to meet them ; and a house having been provided 
for their lodging, they were hospitably entertained. 
Soon after came the cacique of a neighbouring 
town, named Durira^ attended by a great number 
of Indians, who brought some gold plates to barter, 
and told the lieutenant that up the country there 
were caciques who had great quantities of gold, 
and that there were many men armed like the 
Spaniards. 

The next day Don Bartholomew marched with 
thirty men towards Zobabra, after having ordered 
the rest to return by land to the ships. He here 
saw the ground, for above six leagues, covered 
with maize, and cultivated like the corn-fields of 
Europe. At Zobabra he was kindly entertained 
by the natives, as he was also at another town 
called Cateba, at both which places he purchased 
some gold plates ; but having now advanced a con- 
siderable way from the ships, without discovering 
any harbour along the coast, or river larger than 
that of Belem, where he might conveniently settle a 
colony, he returned, with a good quantity of gold, 
to the place from which he had taken his depar- 
ture, and where it was now agreed to make a settle- 
ment under his command. 

Proper arrangements having been made, the 
sailors began to build (about a cannon-shot from 
the mouth of the river Belem) houses of timber, 
which they covered with the palm-tree leaves that 
grew along the shore; and a large building was 
also erected to serve as a storehouse and magazine, 
in which several pieces of cannon, with powder, 



WESTERN WORLD. 125 

provi^ons, and other necessaries were lodged, for 
the support of the planters ; while a quantity of 
wine, oil, vinegar, cheese, and grain, was deposited 
on board the ship Galega, that was to be left with 
the lieutenant, with cordage, nets, hooks, and other 
fishing-tackle for tlie use of the colony. Indeed, 
these could not fail to be of signal service in a 
country that abounds with fish, which are caught 
by the natives with hooks made of tortoiseshell. 

When the houses were erected, and proper regu- 
lations made for the preservation of the new colony, 
the admiral resolved to return to Spain; but his 
voyage was effectually prevented by want of water 
to carry the ships out of the river, and by a ter- 
rible surf that beat upon the shore, and threatened 
immediate destruction to any vessel that should 
approach it. To render these circumstances the 
more unfortunate, the rains, which alone could 
swell the river, were past ; the bottoms of the ships 
were so worm-eaten that they resembled honey- 
combs, and, to complete their vexation, one of their 
interpreters reported that Quibio intended to set 
fire to the houses of the Spaniards, who, contrary 
to his inclination, and to that of his people, had 
made a settlement in his dominions. 

Upon this occasion, the admiral concerted 
measures with his brother for seizing the cacique, 
with his principal men, in order to carry them to 
Spain as hostages for the good behaviour of his 
subjects : an expedient wdiich, however politic, 
was not at all agreeable to the humanity of Chris- 
topher Columbus on other occasions, and equally 



126 BISCOYEEIES IX THE 

inconsistent with all tlie laws of nature and nations. 
However^ on the 30th of March, the lieutenant, 
attended by above seventy men, proceeded to 
Vera2:ua. which consisted of strag:o:lino: houses, 
and, at a small distance from that place, was 
desired by a messenger from the cacique not to 
come up to his house, which stood upon a hill. Not- 
withstanding this request, the lieutenant resolved to 
proceed, but with only five men, ordering the rest to 
follow two by two at some distance, and when they 
should hear a musket fired, to beset the houses, 
and let nobody escape. On approaching Quibio's 
residence, he was met by another messenger, who 
entreated him not to enter the house, and told him 
that the cacique himself would come out, though 
he had been wounded by an arrow. Quibio, on 
coming to the door, agreeably to his promise, was 
immediately seized by the lieutenant, and as soon 
as the musket was fired, the house was surrounded 
by the rest of the Spaniards, and about thirty 
persons made prisoners without the least opposi- 
tion : among them were the wives and children 
of the cacique, with some of his principal subjects, 
who offered to ransom themselves with a lar^-e 
quantity of gold that was concealed in an adjoining 
wood. The lieutenant, disregarding their offers, 
ordered them all to be bound and carried on board, 
before the country should take the alarm: intend- 
ing himself to stay with the greatest part of the 
men, to secure some of Quibio's kindred and sub- 
jects, whom he had not yet been able to take ; he 
therefore delivered the prisoners to Juan Sanchez 



WESTERN WOELD. 127 

de Cadiz, an able pilot, who with great readiness 
undertook to carry them on board to the admiral. 
The pilot embarked with them in the boat, when 
Quibio complaining that his hands were too hard 
bound, Sanchez, moved by compassion, loosed them, 
but kept the rope with which he was tied in his 
own hand. The cacique, now finding his hands 
at liberty, took an opportunity while the pilot was 
looking another way to plunge into the river, 
which he did with such violence that Sanchez 
quitted the rope in order to save himself; and as 
it began to grow dark, and the boat was instantly 
in confusion, it was impossible to hear or see how 
he got on shore. 

The lieutenant, perceiving that it would be im- 
possible to overtake the fugitive Indians, the next 
day returned with the men to the ships, and pre- 
sented the plunder of Quibio's house, which was 
worth three hundred ducats in gold plates, to his 
brother, who, after deducting the fifth part for their 
Catholic majesties, divided the remainder among 
those who were employed in this expedition. 

Soon after this the rain fell, and the floods coming 
down, opened the mouth of the river, upon which 
the admiral sailed out with three ships, leaving 
one for the service of his brother. He, however, 
oime to an anchor at a league's distance, in order 
to wait for fair weather, and in the mean time sent 
back the boat for water. 

Quibio, seeing that the three ships were gone, 
and being grieved and provoked at the loss of his 
wives and children, and also execrated at the 



128 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

violence offered to himself, resolved openly to at- 
tack the settlement. The woods by which it was 
smTounded facilitated his enterprise, and enabled 
the Indians unperceived to reach a spot within ten 
paces of the houses, whence they rushed upon 
the Christians with dreadful shouts^ throwing their 
javelins, not only at those who appeared, but also 
tiirough the slender roofs, so tliat four or five were 
dangerously wounded before the Spaniards were 
able to put themselves in a posture of defence. Don 
Bartholomew, however, being a man of great cou- 
rage and resolution^ sallied out upon the enemy 
with seven or eight of his men, and, notwithstand- 
ing the Indians several times rallied, drove them 
into the wood ; but though the Indians would not 
engage hand to hand, after they had felt the edge 
of the Europeans' swords, and the teeth of a dog, 
by which they were furiously attacked, they con- 
tinued to throw their javelins at a distance till 
tliey were driven from their covert, and obliged to 
fly, after they had killed one Spaniard, and 
wounded seven others, amongst whom was the 
lieutenant. 

Captain James Tristan, whom the admiral had 
sent ashore with the boat, and who appeared just 
as the Indians were obliged to retire into the 
wood, stood an idle spectator during the engage- 
ment, without suffering any of his men to land. 
The battle being over, he rowed a fall league up 
the river to take in fresh water, at a place quite 
covered with wood ; when the Indians, sallying 
from the erove in their canoes, attacked him with 



WESTERN WORLD. 129 

a shower of javelins^ and, tbongli the captain sus- 
tained then- onset with great gallantry, both he 
and the whole boat's crew were soon slain; one 
person only, who happened to fall overboard in 
the roidst of the fray, reached the shore, and passed 
through the wood to the colony, where he gave an 
account of the disaster. 

The colonists were so terrified at this news that 
they would immediately have abandoned the set- 
tlement, and joined the admiral in the ship he 
had left them, had they not been prevented by the 
lowness of the water at the mouth of the river, 
which was not sufficient to float their vessel, and 
the sea beat with such violence over the bar, that 
no boat could be sent to the admiral v/ith advice 
of their distress. He himself was in a very dan- 
gerous open road without his long boat, and igno- 
rant of the unhappy fate of the captain and his 
crew, till he had the mortification to see their 
bodies driving down the river, covered with wounds 
and preyed upon by a number of carrion crows. 
This melancholy spectacle spread great despondency 
amongst his people, who concluded that the whole 
colony had perished. Meanwhile the Indians^ 
elated at the advantage they had gained, returned 
to the attack of the settlement, which they carried 
on day and night without intermission ; so that all 
the Spaniards must have fallen a sacrifice to their 
resentment, had they not removed to an open strand, 
where they formed a barricade of casks and other 
lumber, and planted their cannon in such a manner 
as to make great havoc amongst the enemy, who 



130 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

became terrified at those dreadful instruments of 
slaughter. 

The admiral waited ten days for fair weather, 
in order to send the only boat that now remained 
for intelligence, and to add to these vexations 
several of the Indian prisoners who were confined 
in the hold burst open the hatches in the night, 
leaped into the sea and swam ashore; while those 
that remained, disappointed in their hope of escap- 
ing in the same manner, hanged themselves, by 
which means they had no hostages by whom they 
might make peace with Qaibio. 

As the weather still continued boisterous, and 
the Spaniards on board grew extremely impatient 
to learn the fate of their companions, one of the 
sailors offered to swim ashore, provided he might 
be carried in the boat to the place where the surf 
began to run high. This proposal, which was 
gladly embraced by the admiral, was soon put in 
execution ; and the sailor, having obtained sufficient 
intelligence from the colony, swam off again, and 
gave a circumstantial account of all that happened, 
and the particulars of the divisions and dissen- 
sions which had now arisen amongst the men, who 
paid no regard to Don Bartholomew's authority, 
and were unanimous in nothing but their resolu- 
tion to leave the place. They desired to be imme- 
diately taken on board, and resolved, if that were 
refused them, to put to sea in their own rotten 
vessel, since they had rather trust to the mercy 
of the waves than continue exposed to the resent- 
nnnt of the savages. Upon this Columbus agreed 



WESTERN WORLD. 131 

to send for them, and the weatlier becoming favour- 
able, they left the country, taking with them all 
their goods and effects in the boat, and in some 
canoes which they lashed together, leaving nothing 
behind them but the hulk of the ship, which was 
unfit for service. 

The company having thus, to their great joy, 
re-assembled, the admiral sailed to the eastward 
as far as Porto-Bello, where he was obliged to 
leave one of his ships, which was so leaky and 
worm-eaten that she could not proceed. He con- 
tinued his course till the 10th of May, when he 
observed two small islands, wdiich he named 
Tortugas, from the great number of turtle he found 
there. Then, going on thirty leagues to the 
northward, he arrived at the islands called Jardin 
de la Reyna, or the Queen's Gardens, ten leagues 
to the south of Cuba, by w^hich time the ships 
were so leaky that the men were harassed by 
working the pumps, for, as they had scarcely 
any provisions left, they were but little able to 
support such fatigue ; and in this unhappy situa- 
tion they were overtaken by a dreadful storm, in 
which the Bermuda ran foul of the admiral, and 
both were in the greatest danger of foundering ; 
the same night they also narrowly escaped being 
wrecked upon some sharp rocks. 

The wind at length abated, and the admiral 
sailed to an Indian town on the coast of Cuba, 
w^here, having purchased some refreshments, he 
stood over to Jamaica, pumping and baling all the 
w^ay, notwithstanding which the water rose up 



132 DISCOYERTES IN THE 

almost to the deck. In this situation he put into 
a harbour called Puerto Rueno, but finding no 
fresh water there, steered to the eastward into 
another called Santa Gloria, where, finding it im- 
possible to keep the ships afloat, he ran them ashore, 
alongside of each other^ causing them to be prop- 
ped up on each side to keep them upright, and 
sheds to be made on the poop and forecastle to 
secure the sailors from the inclemency of the 
weather, and the attempts of the Indians. 

He here made it his study to oblige the natives, 
who resorted in great numbers to the ships with 
what they had to barter, and appointed two per- 
sons to superintend the market, and prevent frauds 
or abuses, as well as to divide what was purchased 
equally among the sailors. This regulation was 
both agreeable to his own men and to the Indians, 
who exchanged two small animals like rabbits for 
a bit of tin, and two of their cakes of bread for 
two green or yellow beads, and things of greater 
value for a hawk's bell : and sometimes a cacique, 
or other considerable person, had a present of a 
pair of scissors or a small looking-glass. 

The admiral having consulted with the officers 
as to the best means of leaving the island, it was 
agreed to send an account of their situation to 
Nicholas de Obando, governor of Hispaniola, and 
to Alonzo Sanchez de Carvajal, the admiral's 
factor there, to desire that a ship might be freight- 
ed and sent to their relief at the admiral's expense. 
Two canoes were chosen for this dangerous expedi- 
tion, in one of which James Mendez de Segura, the 



WESTERN WORLD. 133 

admiral's chief secretary, embarked, with six Span- 
iards and ten Indians to row it ; and Bartholomew 
Fiesco, a Geonese gentleman, went, with the same 
number of hands on board the other, with ordei^s 
to return immediately with the news of their safe 
arrival. They then rowed to the most easterly point 
of Jamaica, under the conduct of the admiral's 
brother, who took care to supply them with every 
thing necessary for the voyage, which w^as a very 
extraordinary one to be performed by canoes, since 
the distance between the two islands amount- 
ed to thirty leagues, without any intervening land, 
except a small rock or island about eight leagues 
from the coast of Hispaniola. Don Bartholomew 
made them wait for a calm, and then ordering 
them to set off on their voyage, stayed till they 
were out of sight. 

They launched at night, the Indians who rowed 
sometimes leaping into the water to cool them- 
selves, and then returning to the oar again. The 
second day after their departure they all began to 
be much tired ; but the tw^o chiefs encouraged the 
men, advising them to eat, in order to recover 
their strength. The Indians being heated by the 
sun, and by labouring at the oar, soon emptied 
their calabashes of water; and the heat increasing, 
their thirst increased with it, so that by noon they 
had no strength left. They were then relieved 
by the commanders frequently giving them some- 
thing to drink out of their rundlets, which sup- 
ported them till the cool of the evening. They 
were now greatly distressed with the apprehension 



134 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

that they had lost their way, and had missed a 
little island eight leagues from Hispaniola, where 
they expected to refresh themselves ; and that after- 
noon they threw overboard an Indian who died 
with thirst ; others lay stretched out, and quite dis- 
abled, while the rest expected death, and held salt 
water in their mouths to cool them, but could receive 
no comfort. 

They proceeded the second night without seeing 
the islandj till the moon rose, when it was happily 
discovered; then all joined in encouraging the 
Indians, shewed them the island, and gave them 
small sips of water, which so revived their spirits 
that by break-of-day they reached it. However, they 
found it to be only a solid rock about half a league in 
compass, without a single tree or spring of water ; 
but on going about from one cliff to another, they 
collected in the hollows more than was necessary to 
quench their thirst. Being scorched with drought, 
they drank so much that some of the poor Indians 
died upon the spot, and others fell sick. Here they 
stayed till the afternoon, and having rested, and 
refreshed themselves with the shellfish they pick- 
ed up along the shore, they went on board in the 
evening, and steered to the nearest land of Hispa- 
niola, where they arrived early in the morning. 
Fiesco, after resting two days, was desirous of 
returning to the admiral according to his promise, 
but was obliged to desist, because neither the sailors 
nor Indians would accompany him in the voyage. 
Mendez, though suffering under a quartan ague, 
occasioned by his hardships at sea, immediately set 



WESTERN WORLD. 135 

out for Xaragua, where he informed the governor 
of the admiral's situation, and, after much impor- 
tunity, obtained leave to purchase a ship at St, 
Domingo, to return to the island of Jamaica. 

Soon after the departure of the canoes, the men 
who were left behind began to grow sickly, in con- 
seq[uence of a change of provisions and the fatigue 
they had suffered ; a spirit of discontent also 
diffused itself among them. They now privately 
murmured, and caballed against the admiral, 
whom they accused of being the cause of all their 
misfortunes. The chief promoters of this discon- 
tent were two brothers whose names were Porras, 
one of whom had been captain of the ship Ber- 
muda, and the other purser of the fleet. These, 
having gained over forty-eight of the men, resolved 
to declare their intentions. Accordingly, on the 
2nd January, 1504, Captain Francis de Porras, 
whom they had chosen for their leader, went upon 
the quarterdeck, and addressing himself to the 
admiral, asked, " What is the reason, my lord, that 
you will not return to Spain, but keep us here to 
perish ? " From this insolent question Columbus 
readily suspected that a mutiny was formed, and 
very calmly replied, " That he did not see how it 
was possible for them to return to Spain till they 
were assisted by a vessel from Hispaniola, and that 
they well knew he had already, by their unanimous 
advice, sent for a ship, but, if they had any better 
method to oft'er, they might propose it/' Francis 
de Porras replied, '' That there was no need of much 
advising, and that he might embark immediately, 



13S DISCOVERIES m THE 

or stay behind:" and then, turning liis back, add^d, 
'' I will go to Spain with all that will follow me/' 

Being immediately seconded by all the mutineers, 
after causing much confusion on board the ship, 
he seized ten canoes which the admiral had bought 
of the Indians^ and, being joined by many of the 
sickj went to the eastern point of Jamaica, whence 
Mendez and Fiescohad departed from HispaniolL 
In their way they committed all manner of out- 
rages upon the poor Indians^ whom they advised 
to apply for redress to the admiral, and to put him 
to death if he refused to give them satisfaction, 
adding that his design in staying was to involve 
them in the same miseries he had already entailed 
upon the inhabitants of the other islands. 

Having reached the point, they attempted to 
pass over to Hispaniola with some Indians whom 
they had compelled to go on board every canoe to 
serve as rowers ; but they had not gone four 
leagues from land, when the v/ind, which was con- 
trary, beginning to freshen^ and the sea to rise, they 
thought fit to lighten the canoes, which were 
heavy laden, by throwing what they had overboard, 
except some provisions, water, and their arms, and 
at last the poor Indians who rowed. These un- 
happy people swam till they were weary, and 
then hung by the canoes to recover themselves, 
when the barbarous ruffians cut off their hands, 
and thus eighteen of the poor creatures perished, 
and none would have escaped had not these inhu- 
man monsters, for their own sakes, kept a few to 
low them back to Jamaica. 



WESTERN WORLD. 137 

On coming ashore, some were for taking ad- 
vantage of the easterly wind and currents for 
passing over to Cuba, whence they would have a 
short cut to Hispaniola ; others were for returning 
and making peace with the admiral, or depriving 
him by force of all he had in his possession. But 
it was agreed by a majarity of voices, that they 
should wait for a calm, and then make another 
attempt to pass directly to Hispaniola. They stayed 
a month or six weeks waiting for this opportunity 
at an Indian town near that cape, during which 
they plundered the poor natives ; but, having made 
two unsuccessful efforts to perform the voyage, 
quitted their canoes, and rambled from place to 
place, sometimes bartering with the people for 
provisions, and sometimes taking them by force. 

Christopher Columbus exerted all his address to 
remove the bad impressions made by the mutineers 
on the minds of the Indians. He engaged them 
to supply him with provisions, and at the same 
time employed his humanity in the relief of the 
sick, all of whom recovered : but, as the constant 
supply of provisions he required produced a 
scarcity among the Indians, who sowed little more 
than was just necessary for their own subsistence, 
they began to grow remiss in their attendance. 
When Columbus w^as no longer plentifully sup- 
plied, more of his men revolted, and the natives, 
who w^ere already stocked with the commodities 
brought by the Spaniards, no longer considered 
him to be in a situation that commanded respect 
or obedience. 



138 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

In this dilemma he hit upon a very extraordi- 
nary expedient for retreiving his character and 
affairs with these savages. As he knew that there 
would be an eclipse of the moon within three days, 
he sent an Indian of Hispaniola, who was on board 
and spoke Spanish, to assemble the cacique and 
principal men of that district, in order to confer 
with them on an affair in which they were nearly 
concerned ; and, as they obeyed the summons the 
day before the eclipse, he told them by his inter- 
preter, that he and his people were Christians and 
believed in God, who created heaven and earth, re- 
warded the righteous and punished the wdcked, 
and therefore w^ould not suffer the rebellions 
Spaniards to pass over to Hispaniola, though he 
had conducted Mendez and Fiesco to that island : 
that the same Almiglity Being was displeased at 
the Indians for neglecting to supply his distressed 
servants with provisions in exchange for their 
commodities, and was therefore determined to 
punish them with pestilence and famine, as a proof 
of which, He would give a token of his anger in 
the sky, and that very night they should see the 
moon rising with a bloody aspect to point out the 
punishment God would inflict upon them. 

This prediction had different effects upon the 
Indians, some of whom went away in a fright, 
while others laughed at it as an idle story ; bat 
when they perceived the moon actually eclipsed, 
and the darkness increasing as she rose, they were 
filled with consternation, and running from all 
quarters loaded with provisions, entreated the ad- 



■WKSTEEN WORLD. 139 

miral to intercede with God, and prevail on him to 
be no longer angry with them, promising that for the 
future they would take care to supply all his wants. 

The admiral replied, that he would offer up his 
prayers for them, and then shutting himself up 
till the eclipse was at its height and ready to de- 
crease, he told them that he had been offering up his 
petitions to Heaven for their preservation, and that 
God had been so good as to forgive them, on their 
promise of being kind and hospitable to the Chris- 
tians ; and, as a testimony of his forgiveness, they 
should see the moon by degrees resume her 
former splendour. In short the Indians perceiving 
the eclipse disappear, praised the God of the Chris- 
tians, returned the admiral many thanks, and con- 
tinued to supply him plentifully with provisions ; 
for though some of them had formerly seen sucli 
eclipses, they all thought it impossible to foretel 
them, without an immediate correspondence with 
the Deity, and they therefore considered Columbus 
as in a peculiar manner the favourite of heaven. 

Eight months having elapsed, since the depar- 
ture of Mendes and Fiesco, without the admiral'.s 
obtaining the least inteUigence of them, the peo- 
ple supposing they had either perished at sea, or 
been killed by the Indians of Hispaniola in their 
way to St. Domingo, began to be extremely de- 
jected, when their fears were confirmed by a canoe, 
which they found upset and driven by the current 
upon the coast. These apprehensions daily in- 
creasing at length produced a second conspiracy, 
headed by one Bernard, an apothecary of Valencia, 



140 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

and two of his companionSj who, in imitation of 
the other mutineers, formed a scheme for desertiog 
the admiral ; but its execution was prevented by 
the arrival of a vessel sent by the governor of His- 
paniola. The captain, whose name was James de 
Escobar, having cast anchor near the wrecks, came 
in his boat to deliver a letter with compliments 
from the Governor, and presented the admiral 
with a cask of wine and two flitches of bacon, and 
when these were delivered, Escobar weighed 
anchor and sailed back the same evening. 

Columbus was greatly mortified at his abrupt 
departure ; still however he made use of this event 
to put an end to this second conspiracy; for he 
told the men, that as he had resolved not to go 
away without them, and as that little caravel \A'as 
not suflScient to carry them all, Escobar went away 
so hastily that he might lose no time in bring- 
ing them relief. This declaration had such an 
effect on the conspirators, that they immediately 
laid aside all thought of their designs ; the true 
reason however of that ship's arrival was, that 
Lares, Governor of Hispaniola, was apprehensive 
that the admiral would upon his return to Spain 
be reinstated in his government, and therefore he 
sent Escobar to observe his situation, and see 
whether he might not easily be destroyed. From 
this caravel Columbus received certain intelli- 
gence of the safe arrival of Mendez and Fiesco 
at Hispaniola, and did not doubt but that, in 
consequence of their remonstrances, he should be 
speedily relieved. 



WESTERN WORLD. 141 

Being desirous of reducing the mutineers, who 
had beliaved in so scandalous and base a manner, 
by fair means rather than by force, he sent two 
persons to acquaint them v/ith the advice he had 
received, to desire them to return, and to let 
them know that, in that case, no notice should be 
taken of what had happened. Francis de Porras, 
dreading the consequences of a reunion, met these 
messengers at a distance, and answered, that they 
would not trust the admiral, but would behave 
themselves peaceably in the island if he would 
promise to procure a sliip to carry tliem off; or 
if he had but one, assign one half of it to them for 
their own convenience, and give them a half share 
of the clothes and comm^odities that were still in 
his possession, since they had lost all their own 
effects, otherwise they would come and take the 
'*vhole by force of arms. As for the caravel from 
His[)s.niola, they asserted that it was only a 
delusion, which the admiral, who w^as a great 
magician, had raised by enchantment. 

The mutineers actually resolved to put their 
threats into execution, and marched to an Indian 
village wdthin a quarter of a league of the wreck?, 
w^ben the admiral, being informed of their design, 
sent his brother with fifty men well armed to ex- 
postulate with them and persuade them to return 
to their duty ; but to refrain from all acts of hos- 
tility, till they should be first attacked. Don 
Bartholomew posted himself on a rising ground 
within bow shot of the mutineers, and then sent the 
two messengers the admiral had employed before 



142 DISCO YERIES IN THE 

to offer terms of peace ; but the mutineers treat- 
ing this condescension as the effect of fear, fell upon 
his men with every confidence of victory : six of 
the boldest having solemnly sworn to fight their 
way to the lieutenant, whose death they imagined 
would disconcert his followers. However they 
Vv^ere disappointed, for at the very first charge five 
of them were slain. Francis de Porras boldly sin- 
gled out the lieutenant, and at one blow cut his 
tiirget down to his handj which he wounded ; 
butj not being able to recover his sword, he 
w^as made prisoner, after having received several 
w^ounds. The lieutenant then rushed upon the 
enemy, and, being seconded by his men, obliged 
them to flee with precipitation, and having obtained 
a complete victory, returned to the wrecks with 
a good number of prisoners. 

The next day the fugitives sent a petition to 
the admiral, in which they confessed their fault, 
begged pardon, and promised to serve him faith- 
fully for the future ; and this they solemnly swore 
to perform. Upon this he granted them a free 
pardon, and took them again into his protection ; but 
to prevent future animosities, kept Francis de 
Porras a close prisoner, and appointed a proper 
person to comraand and lead them about the island, 
in order the better to procure subsistence in ex- 
change for the commodities with which he caused 
them to be supplied. 

In this state were affairs in Jamaica, where the 
admiral had been a full year, wdien a ship arrived 
freighted by James Mendes^ attended by a caravel; 



WESTERN WORLD. 1 13 

and Columbus embarking ^vith bis wbole company 
on the 2Sth June, 1504, set sail for Hispaniola. 
As the wind and current were contrary, they 
had a troublesome voyage, and did not reach St. 
Domingo till the 13th of August. The governor 
with all the city went out to meet him, paid him 
many compliments, and lodged him in his own 
house ; but this outward show of respect was all 
affectation, for he caused Francis de Porras to be 
set at liberty, and threatened to punish those who 
had adhered to the admiral in his greatest danger. 

Columbus being sensible of the deceitful man- 
ner in which he was treated, and of the true 
motives of the governor's behaviour, chose to 
conceal his resentment and prepare for his depar- 
ture. On the 12th of September he embarked on 
board a ship provided by his agents, and also took 
with him the vessel that had brought him and his 
people from Jamaica ; but they were no sooner out 
of port than the main mast of the smaller vessel 
came down. Upon which he ordered her back to 
St Domingo, and continued his voyage in the 
other. He had not however been long at sea 
before he met with a violent tempest, in which 
they lost their main mast, and all on board expect- 
ed every moment to perish; but making a jury 
mast of the yard, they continued their voyage, and 
after having been exposed to another storm, that 
carried away their foremast, arrived at the port of 
St. Lucar. 

Columbus upon landing was greatly afflicted 
at the news of the death of his best friend, and 



144 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

only patroness. Queen Isabella; for, though King 
Ferdinand always treated him with some degree of 
respect, he well knew that he was far from having 
any real kindness towards him. or even any inclina- 
tion to do him justice. That Prince thought the 
advantages he had stipulated for were too consider- 
able, and instead of fulfilling his engagement, 
offered him a large estate in Spain in exchange 
for what was his due in the West Indies. Colum- 
bus, who was confined to his bed, was extremely 
displeased at this treatment ; but his endeavours 
to obtain his just demands were interrupted by 
King Ferdinand, who took a journey from Valla- 
dolid to Laredo, to wait for his son-in-law King 
Philip, and Queen Johannah his daughter. Before 
Ferdinand's return Columbus's illness increased, 
and he died on the 20th of May, 1506, aged 
sixty-four. His body was conveyed to the Mon- 
astery of the Carthusians at Seville, where some 
authors say he was magnificently interred in the 
Cathedral of that city, and a monument erected 
to his memory^ on which is the following in- 
^^^on, — 

A Castilia, y a Leon, 
NuEvo MuNDO Dio Colo:?. 

In English, 

To Castile and Leon, 
Columbus gave a New World. 

Others assert that his body was carried from 



WESTERN WORLD. 145 

the above monastery to the city of St. Domingo 
in Hispaniola, and that he lies interred in the 
chancel of the cathedral, which may probably be 
true, notwithstanding the above monument erected 
to his honour at Seville. 

Thus died this truly great man, who was the 
son of a woolcomber of Cogureto, a village in the 
territory of Genoa, and who by his abilities not only 
raised himself and his family to nobility, but 
rendered himself by his discoveries the greatest 
man of the age in which he lived. He was, how- 
ever, in many respects treated with ingratitude 
both by the king and those who were under his 
own command; and it is no small blemish to King 
Ferdinand's character, that he did not do justice 
to his merit, but always meanly endeavoured to 
falsify his engagements with him. To Columbus 
justly belongs the honour of giving light to the 
New World^ which from him ought to have been 
called Columba; while the name of America was 
bestowed on what he discovered from Americus 
Vesputius, who had no just title to that honour. 

Columbus, by discovering a new world, opened 
new sources of commerce ; he settled Hispaniola, 
took a view of Cuba, visited and resided for a con- 
siderable time in Jamaica, bestowed the name of 
St. John on the island of Porto Eico, and dis- 
covered almost all that could properly be called 
the West Indies. He indeed but barely saw the 
continent ; but then he saw both parts of it, and the 
isthmus that unites them. He also left behind him 
schemes for extending these discoveries, and con- 

L 



146 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

jectures on the consequences tbat might attend 
them. 

We shall conclude this account with a descrip- 
tion of his person, and the character given of him 
by a Spanish historian justly esteemed for his 
fidelity: — '^Columbus was tall of stature, had a 
long visage and a majestic aspect, an aquiline nose, 
grey eyes, and a clear andruddy complexion. When 
young, his hair and beard were fair ; but the many 
hardships he suffered soon turned them grey. He 
was a man of wit and pleasantry, was eloquent in 
discourse, and yet moderately grave. His affa- 
bility to strangers, and his discreet conversation, 
gained him the affection of all he met with ; and 
he had an air of authority and grandeur that 
attracted respect. He was very strict in religion 
according to the mode of his country, and obliged 
such as were under his command to show at least 
a decent regard to it. He had an earnest concern 
for the conversion of the Indians, and endeavoured 
as much as was in his power to allure them, by 
obligiug the Spaniards to lead a life in some mea- 
sure agreeable to the faith they professed. He was 
a man of undaunted courage ; was fond of great 
enterprises ; temperate in eating and drinking, and 
modest in his dress ; he was patient, and ready 
to forgive wrongs, and only desirous that offenders 
should be sensible of their faults. He remained 
unmoved amidst the many troubles and adversities 
that attended him, ever relying on the Divine 
Providence. In short, had he in much earlier 
times performed so wonderful an enterprise as the 



WESTEEN WORLD. 147 

discovery of a new world, he would probably have 
had not only statues and temples erected to his 
honour, but some star would have been dedicated 
to him, as was done to Hercules and Bacchus. 
However, his name will be remembered as long 
as the world endures." 

In order to give a clearer idea of the extent and 
importance of the discoveries of Columbus, we 
shall, in the next three or four chapters, follow up 
the account already given by relating what was 
done by his more immediate followers ; which will 
thus bring this narrative of Spanish adventure 
down to the time of Cortes. 



148 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 



CHAPTER VI. 

Further adventures of the Spaniards in the Western World 
after the death of Christopher Columbus — State of Hispaniola 
under the government of Nicholas de Obando — Settlement of 
Porto Rico by Juan Ponce de Leon — Diego Columbus made 
governor of Hispaniola — The pearl fishery of Cubagua. 

We hasten, as was proposed at the conclusion of 
the last chapter, to give the reader some brief ac- 
count of the proceedings of the Spaniards, after 
death had removed from them that bold adventu- 
rer who first led them to seek for new treasures in 
the Western World. 

At the death of Christopher Columbus, Nicholas 
de Obando continued governor of Hispaniola, and 
distinguished himself by making draughts of the 
coasts from a survey which he had caused to be 
taken, and by dividing the Indians among the 
Spaniards, who considered them as their vassals. 
Gold was almost their only pursuit, and such 
quantities of that valuable metal were found^ that 
there were annually melted in the island more 
than the value of £150,000 sterling, and yet this 
treasure was far from enriching those who were 
employed in amassing it ; for the value of the gold 
in Hispaniola decreased there in proportion to its 
abundance, and as many lived luxuriously and 



WESTERN WORLD. 149 

upon credit, it was often seized at ? the melting 
time for their debts, and was frequently insufficient 
to satisfy the demands of their creditors. 

Meanwhile Juan Ponce de Leon^ a Spanish 
gentleman, who had one of the provinces under his 
command, having been informed by the Indians 
that St. John de Porto Eico was rich in gold, ob- 
tained a licence from Obando for planting a colony 
in it. For this purpose he landed in the dominions 
of the greatest cacique in the island, with some 
Spaniards and Indians, and was kindly entertained 
by him and his relations, who, as a peculiar mark 
of their friendship, changed names with him. 
This cacique at Ponce's desire conducted him all 
over the island, and shewed him the rivers in which 
gold was usually found. Ponce afterwards left 
some Spaniards, whom he recommended to the 
cacique and his mother, and sailing back to Hispa- 
niola, carried samples of the gold to Obando ; then 
returning with fresh supplies, he had the pleasure 
of finding that those whom he had left had been 
well entertained by -the friendly cacique during his 
absence. 

While Ponce de Leon was thus employed in 
settling Porto Eico, Obando was recalled, and Don 
Diego Columbus came as his father's successor, to 
take upon himself the government of Hispaniola, 
bringing with him from Spain a new governor for 
Porto Rico ; but Ponce disputing his authority, 
the young admiral set them both aside, and ap- 
pointed Michael Cerron governor, and Michael 
Diaz his lieutenant. After this, Ponce, by the 



150 DISCOYERIES IN TUB 

interest of his friend Obando, procured a corn- 
mission from Spain, and^ returning to Porto Eico, 
aasily found pretences for seizing Cerron and Diaz, 
whom he sent prisoners into Spain, and then car- 
ried out his design of conquering the island : this 
he found a more difficult task than he had ima- 
gined, but the poor Indians at last, in spite of the 
kindness with which they had treated him, were 
subdued, and entirely enslaved. Soon after, Ponce 
de Leon was deprived of his post ; for Cerron and 
Diaz having presented a petition to the court of 
Spain, where they were strongly supported by 
Columbus's interest, were sent back in order to 
possess their former employments. Ponce, being 
thus reduced to the state of a private man, fitted 
out two ships for making new discoveries, and on 
the 2nd of April, 1512, fell in with land unknown 
to the Spaniards, latitude 30° 8'; and, believing it 
to be an island, named it Florida, from its beauti- 
ful appearance and its many pleasant groves, or, as 
some say, from discovering it on Easter Sunday, 
which the Spaniards call Pascha Florida, this being 
the finest season for flowers. 

But to return to Porto Eico. The Indians of 
that island were at length extirpated by the cruel- 
ties of the Spaniards ; but for what reason it is very 
hard to say, since the gold which they had been 
employed in gathering was all exhausted. 

The island of Porto Eico is one hundred and 
twenty miles in length and sixty in breadth, and 
its northern coast is in 18 degrees of latitude, and 
its southern in 17°. The country consists of a 



WESTERN WORLD. 151 

pleasing variety of hills and valleys, woods and 
meadows, abounding in all tropical fruits, and well 
watered with springs and rivers; but, like other 
countries within the tropics, it has periodical rains 
and storms, and sometimes hurricanes between 
Midsummer and Michaelmas.* 

At length Diego Columbus made a settlement 
on the island of Cubagua, which he named The 
island of Pearls, and established a pearl fishery on 
the coast, which soon became so considerable, that 
in some years the king's -fifth of the pearls was 
valued at 15,000 ducats. 

This island, which is three hundred leagues from 
Hispaniola, and is situated in about 10^ north 
latitude, is three leagues in compass, and has a dry 
and barren soil that produces no grass, and affords 
only a few guaiacum-trees and shrubs. It had no 
land animals except a few quadrupeds like rabbits, 
and no birds but such as belong to the sea, which 
is not at all extraordinary, as= it has not a single 
spring of fresh water. 

* Porto Rico was conquered hj the Earl of Cumberland at 
his own expense, and that of other private adventurers, in the 
reign of Qaeen Elizabeth ; but having lost most of his men in 
the latter end of the summer, when these climates are very 
unhealthful, the earl was obliged to abandon the island. 

The Spaniards introduced European cattle, fruit, and corn, 
and chiefly exported from thence sugar, rum, and ginger. 
The capital, which is also called Porto Rico and St. John's 
City, is in a small island in the harbour on the north side, and 
is joined to the main island by a causeway. The town is now 
about a mile and a half in circumference, and is fortified by 
several batteries ; it stands on an eminence, and commands the 
main island on one side, and the sea on the other. 



152 DISCOVEKIES IN THE 



CHAPTEK VII. 

Alonzo de Hojeda and Diego de Nicuessa, obtain patents for 
making new discoveries, and sail for the West Indies — Hojeda 
lands at Carthagena, and, marching into the country, has 
many of his men cut off, and he himself narrowly escapes ; 
but is assisted and revenged by Nicuessa — Hojeda forms the 
settlement of St. Sebastian — retires to Hispaniola — dies of 
want — the colony saved by the prudent advice of Nunez 
de Balboa — Diego de Nicuessa plants the colony of Nombre 
de Dios ; his misfortunes and miserable death. 

About this time Alonzo de Hojeda, who had ser- 
ved under Christopher Columbus, having petitioned 
for a patent for making new settlements, obtained 
the promise of a grant of all that had been discover- 
ed on the continent ; but Diego Nicuessa, a man of 
greater wealth, interfered, stopped the grant, and 
obtained half of it for himself, the court allowing 
the former all the country between Cape de la Vela 
and the Gulf of Darien, under the name of New 
Andalusia; and the latter, the country from that 
gulf to Cape Gracias a Dios, under the name of 
Castilla del Oro or Golden Castile, without any 
mention being made of Diego Columbus, to whom 
these countries of right belonged, as they were dis- 
covered by his father. 

Each of these adventurers fitted out two vessels, 



WESTERN WORLD. 153 

With which they sailed to St. Domingo, in His- 
paniola, where they quarrelled about their respec- 
tive rights ; but their disputes being at lengtli 
adjusted, they left that island in the latter end of 
the year 1510. Hojeda took on board Francis 
Pizarro, who afterwards conquered Peru, and in a 
few days arrived at Caramari, since called Cartha- 
gena, where the Indians were prepared to oppose 
him on account of the injuries they had received 
from several Spanish adventurers, who, under pre- 
tence of trading, had basely seized, carried off, 
and enslaved several of them. 

These people were of a large stature ; the men 
wore their hair down over their ears ; that of the 
women w^as also very long, and both men and women 
were very expert at shooting with the bow, Hojeda 
immediately sent to them a few priests, with some 
of the Indians of Hispaniola who spoke their 
language ; these messengers had orders to persuade 
them to be peaceable, and submit to the Spanish 
yoke, and to leave off their idolatry, cruelty, and 
other vices, and, in case they proved obstinate, not 
only to make war upon them, but to make them 
slaves. 

Hojeda began to barter with them for gold with 
Spanish toys ; but, finding they were preparing an 
attack, he fell upon them, made great slaughter, 
took some prisoners^ and found a small quantity 
of gold in some of the towns of which he made 
himself master. He then marched to a tow^i 
four leagues within land, whither those had retired 
who had escaped from the last battle. He found 



154 DISCOVEPwIES IN THE 

them upon their guard, armed with bows, poisoned 
airows, rods which they tlirew like darts, swords 
made of hard wood, and targets. He however 
attacked the place, killed great numbers, took sixty 
prisoners, whom he sent to the ships, and con- 
tinued to pursue those who fled The inhabi- 
tants of a town called Yarbaco, having heard of bis 
approach, withdrew with their effects to the moun- 
tains ; thither the Spaniards followed, but, findiDg 
nobody to oppose them, they put themselves oft 
their guard, and dispersed about the country, which, 
being observed by the Indians, they fell upon them 
when they least expected it, and the Spaniards being 
divided into small parties, were every where cut off 
by their showers of poisoned arrows. Hojeda, with 
several of his men, for some time maintained the 
fight, often kneeling, the better to cover himself 
with his target ; but at length seeing most of liis 
people killed, he rushed through the thickest of tho 
Indians, and running with all haste into the woods, 
made towards the sea in search of his ships. John 
de la Casa, Hojeda's pilot and friend, got into a 
house, where he defended himself at the door till 
the Spaniards who were with him were slain, and 
himself so wounded as to be unable to stand. In 
this extremity he observed a Spaniard still main- 
taining his ground, whom he directed to save 
himself by flight, and to tell Hojeda all that had 
happened. This advice the man immediately fol- 
lowed ; and Hojeda and he w^ere the only persons 
who escaped, all the rest, amounting to seventy 
Spaniards, being slain. 



WESTEEN WORLD, 155 

Happily for Hojeda, Nicuessa now appeared 
with his two vessels on the coast, and was no 
sooner informed of what had happened, than he 
sent for his rival, and generously told him that in 
such a case they ought to forget their disputes, and 
to remember only that they were Spaniards and 
gentlemen. They accordingly united, and, having 
landed four hundred men, marched against the 
Indians, burnt the town of Yarbaco, seized a vast 
number of prisoners, and as much gold as amounted 
to seven thousand pieces of eight to each of the 
commanders. 

After this victory they parted, in order to pursue 
their separate plans. Hojeda fixed a settlement 
on the eastern promontory of the gulf of Darien, 
and gave the town the name of St. Sebastian ; 
because he considered that saint, who is said to 
have been martyred by the poisoned arrows of the 
infidels, a fit patron to defend him from the poison- 
ed arrows of the Indians. But, finding that the 
natives were exasperated at his making a settle- 
ment on the coast, he sent Captain Snciso in one of 
the ships to Hispaniola, with orders to bring him 
as large a supply of men and provisions as possible, 
and in the mean time he drew intrenchments about 
the town for his own security. However, as he 
soon wanted necessaries, he was obliged to make 
excursions into the country, by which means many 
of his people were killed by the poisoned arrows 
of the natives, and the colony was reduced to a 
most wi^etched condition ; for they had the pro- 
rpect of being soon famished if they remained 



156 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

within their works, and were sure of meeting with 
death if they ventured out of them. 

Just as the Spaniards were reduced to despair, 
with equal joy and amazement they beheld a ship 
enter the port. It belonged to a pirate named 
Bernard de Talavera, and Hojeda immediately 
bought the ship's cargo, and treated the captain 
with such civility that he readily entered into his 
service. Bat, nothwithstanding the greatness of 
this unexpected relief, their provisions were soon 
consumed, when the Indians became more trouble- 
some than before, and, as no assistance arrived from 
Hispaniola, they were again reduced to despair. 

In this extremity it was at length resolved that 
Hojeda himself should sail to St. Domingo, in 
order to procure supplies ; and, leaving the colony 
under the command of Francis Pizarro, he em- 
barked on board the pirate vessel, and put to 
sea; but, having behaved haughtily to Captain 
Talavera, the latter not only deprived him of all 
command, but placed him in irons. A dreadful 
storm arose, when the crew, depending on Hojeda's 
skill, set him at liberty, and by his direction 
saved their lives, by runniDg the ship ashore 
on the coast of Cuba, whence there is a short 
passage to Hispaniola. Talavera, not daring to go 
thither, prevailed on Hojeda to venture on a voyage 
with him to Jamaica in a canoe, which they were 
so happy as to perform safely. 

After a short stay at Jamaica, the governor at 
Hojeda's desire sent him to St. Domingo, where he 
found that Captain Enciso had set sail for St. 



WESTERN WORLD. 157 

Sebastian : his own credit there was so low, that, 
notwithstanding he was one of the bravest men 
that ever sailed from Spain to America, he soon 
died of want, and as for Talavera, having stayed 
too long at Jamaica, Columbus caused him to be 
apprehended, tried^ and hanged for piracy. 

In this interval, Pizarro with the men under 
liis command quitted St. Sebastian, and steered 
to Carthagena, where he had the happiness to 
find Captain Enciso, who had just arrived there 
with two ships and a considerable reinforcement, 
and immediately returned with them to St. Se- 
bastian, where they had the misfortune of being 
shipwrecked, and finding the town reduced to 
ashes. They, however, rebuilt it as well as they 
were able : but, though they saved out of the 
stranded vessels as much of the provisions and 
other necessaries as possible, they v/ere soon again 
reduced to the utmost distress by famine and war ; 
for, as before, hunger frequently forced them out, 
while the natives constantly drove them back with 
the loss of some of their men. From this terrible 
distress they were relieved by the dexterity and 
presence of mind of a very extraordinary man 
brought over by Enciso. 

Nunez or Nugnez de Balboa, a person of a good 
family, great abilities, and a liberal education, 
had formerly sailed along that coast with Bastidas, 
and had afterwards obtained a good settlement in 
Hispaniola, where, having committed some irregu- 
larities, he was in danger of being put to death. 
In these unfortunate circumstances he caused him- 



158 BISCOVEKIES IN THE 

self to be placed on board Enciso's ship in a bread 
cask, and, after having remained there four days^ 
ventured at last to make his appearance, when the 
ship was a hundred leagues at sea. The cap- 
tain, who had been ordered not to carry any offen- 
ders out of the island, was extremely vexed at 
seeing him, and threatened to set him on shore in 
the first desert place he came to ; but the princi- 
pal persons on board interceding for him, Enciso 
was at last pacified, and granted him his protection, 
which, however, did not efface from Nunez's me- 
mory the treatment he had received. 

Nunez, observing that the company were in 
despair, and knew not how to act, endeavoured 
to encourage them by maintaining that they were 
not in so desperate a condition as they imagined ; 
at the same time telling them that, when he was 
upon this coast before with Bastidas, they sailed 
to the bottom of the gulf, where they saw a very 
large town situated in a fruitful soil and in a fine 
climate ; and, though it was inhabited by warlike 
Indians, still, as they did not make use of poisoned 
arrows, he advised them to get off their stranded 
brigantines, and endeavour to sail thither. 

This advice being approved, was immedia,tely 
followed ; and they sailed to the river called by 
the Indians Darien, where, having viewed the place, 
they found every thing according to his descrip- 
tion. The inhabitants and their cacique being 
informed that the Spaniards were coming, secured 
their wives and children, and with five hundred 
men waited for the invaders on a little hill ; but 



WESTESN WOELD. 159 

the Spaniards fell upon them, soon put them to 
flight, and then proceeded to the town, which to 
their great joy was full of provisions. The next 
day they marched up the country and the neigh- 
bouring mountains^ and found many houses, but 
no inhabitants, for they had all fled. They how- 
ever seized vessels, household goods, short petti- 
coats of cotton, great quantities of cotton, both 
spun and unspun, and about ten thousand pieces 
of fine gold. 

The success of this enterprise gained Nunez 
much reputation, and he began to be in very high 
esteem. It was nov7 unanimously agreed to settle 
a colony there, and to call it Santa Maria el Antiqua 
del Darien, or St. Mary the Ancient of Darien ; 
the first being the name of a church at Seville, 
and the latter the Indian name of the river. 

Nunez now secretly contrived, in concert with 
his friends, to depose Enciso, who unconsciously 
forwarded this scheme, by giving orders that no 
man should trade wdth the Indians for gold upon 
pain of death ; for this raised a suspicion that he 
intended to monopolize the trade of that valuable 
metal, upon which his men threw off* all subjection 
to him, alleging that his authority had expired, as 
they were out of the limits of Hojeda s government. 
They now chose magistrates like those in Spain ; 
Nanez de Balboa and Zamadis were elected al- 
caldes, and Valdivia was appointed regidore ; but, 
soon disliking this form of government, new debates 
arose, wdiich w^ere terminated by the arrival of 
Eoderic Ilenrlou-z de Colmenares with two shij)s, 



160 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

with provisions; military stores, and seventy men 
on board. 

This officer, who was carrying supplies to 
Nicuessa^ had put into a port fifty or sixty leagues' 
distance from this place, and, having sent his men 
on shore to take in water, they were suddenly at- 
tacked by seventy Indians, who wounded forty-five 
of them with their poisoned arrows, and staved 
the boat. The Spaniards, however, swam to the 
ships, though all of them died of their wounds 
except one. Seven of the Spaniards hid them- 
selves in a great hollow tree in order to swim to 
the ship at night ; but those on board, supposing 
they had been slain, set sail for the bay of Uraba, 
or Darien, in search of Nicuessa. Colmenares 
meeting no one on the east side of the bay, where 
he expected to have found either Hojeda's or 
Nicaessa's men, was much surprised, and suspected 
that they were all dead ; he. however, caused some 
pieces of cannon to be fired, and fires to be lighted 
on the tops of the rocks, which, being observed by 
the settlement of Santa Maria^ they made signals, 
upon which he came to them, as we have already 
related, and, generously distributing his provisions 
among them without distinction, brought them to 
agree to send for Nicuessa, in order to make him 
their governor. 

We shall now return to Diego Nicuessa, who, 
after leaving Alonzo de Hojeda, whom he had so 
generously assisted, met with a violent tempest, 
when Lopez de Olano, his lieutenant, perceiving 
that the ships had separated, formed a design of 



WESTERN WORLD. 161 

setting lip for himself, and leaving his patron to 
shift as he could ; but, failing in this, he sailed to 
Veragua, the place of rendezvous, where he endea- 
voured to persuade the people to abandon their 
original design, and to return to Hispaniola, alleg- 
ing that Nicuessa, and the men on board with him, 
had doubtless perished. ]\Ieanwhile a shallop 
entered the port with four men on board, who 
brought advice that Nicuessa had been stranded 
upon an unknown coast ; and, having marched a 
great way w^ith incredible fatigue, was now on 
shore w^ith his followers in a most miserable con- 
dition. At hearing this news Olano's heart re- 
lented, and he immediately despatched the shallop 
v/iLli provisions and refreshments, which saved 
Nicuessa and his men from perishing by hunger : 
but this reasonable relief did not in the least soften 
the governor s resentment against his lieutenant, 
for he put him in irons, and threatened to send 
him in that condition to Spain. 

Nicuessa now settled a colony on the banks of 
the river Belem, or Bethlehem ; but soon became 
in such want of provisions, that, leaving only a 
part of his men there, he sailed with the rest to 
Porto-Bello; when, as the Indians would not suffer 
his people to land, he was obliged to steer two or 
three leagues farther, to the port called by Columbus 
the Bastimentos, and, as soon as he entered it, he 
cried out, Paremos aqui en el Nomhre de Dios; that 
is, Let us stay here in the name of God ; whence 
the place was called Nombre de Dios. Then, im- 
mediately landing, he began to erect a fortress. 

M 



162 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Nicuessa, being soon reduced to the same situa- 
tion as in the former colony, was obliged to send 
one of his vessels to Hispaniola, to entreat Colum- 
bus to grant him some assistance ; but hardly had 
this vessel sailed, when that with Colmenares ar- 
rived with the above message. This captain was 
so amazed at seeing Nicuessa and his people lean, 
ragged, and barefooted, that he could not forbear 
shedding tears, especially when he heard how 
many had died, and the great disaster they had sus- 
tained. He immediately endeavoured to comfort 
him, by telling him that the people of Santa Maria 
desired he would come and govern them, that they 
possessed a pleasant and fertile country, had plenty 
of provisions, and were in no want of gold. 

Nicuessa having now recovered his spirits, re- 
turned thanks to Heaven for this unexpected news ; 
but soon forgetting his own miserable condition, 
and that these people had voluntarily made him an 
offer of becoming their governor and protector, 
he was so imprudent as publicly to declare, that 
he would take all their gold from them, and punish 
them for landing within the limits of his grant. 
Nor was this his only error ; for being desirous of 
viewing some islands that lay in the way, he suf- 
fered a caravel to sail before him, in which were 
persons who acquainted the colony with these un- 
generous expressions; upon which they changed 
their resolutions, and resolved not to suffer him to 
come among them. 

Nicuessa, having spent eight days among the 
islands, was greatly surprised on anchoring at the 



WESTERN WORLD, 153 

landing-place at Santa Maria, to find many of 
the Spaniards on shore, and at being ordered by 
one of them, in the name of all the rest, to return 
to Xombre de Dios. He desired they would hear 
him, and for that purpose the next day came on 
shore, when the people attempting to seize him, he 
escaped by flight. Nicuessa now entreated that, in 
case they would not accept him for their governor, 
lie might at least be admitted as a companion. 
This being refused, he begged they would keep 
him as a prisoner, since he had rather die than go 
back to starve at Nombre de Dios. Notwithstand- 
ing this, they cruelly forced him and about seven- 
teen of his men into an old rotten bark, with orders 
to return to the place whence they came, on pain 
of being sunk where they were. There is no doubt 
of their having complied with this inhuman order, 
but with what success is uncertain ; for they were 
never seen afterwards. A story, however, was cur- 
rent in the West Indies, that the Spaniards, on 
coming to settle themselves in Cuba, found the fol- 
lowing inscription cut on the bark of a large tree. 
'' Here the unfortunate Nicuessa finished his mise- 
ries and his life together." 

After the departure of this unhappy man, Nunez - 
de Balboa distinguished himself as a prudent go- 
vernor ; he made great discoveries ; was the first 
European who saw the South Sea, and prepared 
the way for the conquest of Peru.. 



164 DISCOVERIES IN THE 



, CHAPTEK VIII. 

Diego Columbus sends Diego Yelasquez to plant a colony in 
Cuba ; a description of that Island. 

Though the governments bestowed upon the 
above adventurers were so many violations of the 
iust rights of the Admiral Don Diego Columbus, 
he was, nevertheless, very much blamed for not 
endeavouring to assist them to the utmost of his 
power, and his enemies made use of this complaint 
at the court of Spain^ wdiich always looked upon 
him with jealousy, and therefore readily listened 
to any accusation brought against him. The ad- 
miral was so sensible of this, that he left no stone 
unturned to secure to himself those countries, to 
which he had just pretensions from the contract 
made with his father. 

Being informed at the beginning of the year 
1511, that tiie court was very desirous of having a 
colony planted in the great island of Cuba, he 
resolved to be beforehand, and to send thither 
a body of men under the command of a person 
whom he could trust ; that, having a lieutenant 
there of his own, the court might have no pre- 
tence for making a grant of it to a.ny other ad- 
venturers, as they had done with that part of the 
continent discovered by his father, and even with 



WESTERN WORLD. 165 

the island of Jamaica ; which, however, he had 
recovered. For this purpose he made choice of 
James Velasquez, the most wealthy and esteemed 
of all the first Spanish inhabitants of Hispaniola. 

Before we proceed, it may not be improper to 
observe, that the province of Guatiaba lying next to 
Cuba, and the distance between the two being only 
eighteen leagues, many of the Indians of Hispaniola 
had passed over in their canoes, and among them 
a cacique of the province of Guatiaba called Hatuey, 
a man of bravery and prudence, who took as many 
of his men as possible, and settled on the nearest 
country called Mayci, where he treated the people 
as subjects, and not as slaves. This cacique, fear- 
ing that the Spaniards would one time or other 
pass into Cuba, kept spies in order to know what 
was done in Hispaniola. Being at length informed 
of the admiral's design, he assembled the most 
warlike of his people, and, putting them in mind 
of the many sufferings they had endured under 
the Spaniards, told them that they committed 
these outrages for the sake of a great Lord of whom 
they were very fond, and whom he would show 
them ; then taking some gold out of a little palm 
tree basket, he added, " This is the Lord whom 
they adore, and whom they follow, and, as you have 
already heard, they are coming hither in search of 
him : let us therefore make a festival and dance to 
liim, that when they come he may order them not 
to hurt us." They accordingly began to sing and 
dance ; for their dances, like those of Hispaniola, 
were performed to the music of their songs. At 



166 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

length Hcitiiey reminded them, that though they 
should conceal this Lord of the Christians in their 
very bowels, the Spaniards would find him out, and 
that they should therefore cast him into the midst 
of the river, which was accordingly done. 

The Spanish inhabitants of Hispaniola were no 
sooner informed that Diego Velasquez was going 
to plant a colony in Cuba; than many of them 
resolved to accompany him, and about three hun- 
dred men assembled in the town of Salvatierra de 
la Zavana, at the extremity of Hispaniola, in order 
to embark on board four ships. They sailed in 
November, 151 1^ and landed at a port called 
Palina, in the territories of the cacique Hatuey, 
who stood on his defence, taking advantage of the 

' woods, where the Spaniards could make no use of 

• their horses. After two months spent in thig 
manner, the Indians concealed themselves in the 

" thickest parts of the forests ; but whenever they 
appeared they were hunted like wild beasts by tiie 

■ Spaniards, who carried all they took to Velasquez, 
who distributed them among his men, not as 
slaves, but as servants. Hatuey withdrew into the 
most inaccessible places ; but at length had the 
misfortune to be taken and carried to Velasquez, 
who had the cruelty to cause the unhappy cacique 
to be burnt alive, upon which all the province of 
Mayci submitted ; for, after this example of in- 
human severity, none of the Indians dared to 
oppose him. Velasquez now began to think of 
dividing the native Indians among the Spaniards, 
as Obando had done those in Hispaniola, and for 



£ 



-WESTERN WORLD. 167 

this parpose he founded a town at a harbour in 
the north side of the island, at a place called by 
the natives Barracoa, and here the first colony was 
settled. 

When it was known in Jamaica that Velasquez; 
was in Cuba, many of those who were with Juan 
de Esquibel, Columbus's lieutenant, asked leave to 
go over and serve under him: among these was 
Pamphilio de Narvaez, a gentleman well born, who 
brought thirty archers under his command, and, 
having a graceful person and an easy address, he 
was well received by Velasquez, who sent him with 
his thirty men to the province of Bayamo, a fine 
open country fifty leagues distant. On the road, 
he and his small party were attacked in the night 
at an Indian town, by a considerable body of 
natives; when mounting a mare which he had 
brought with him, they were so frightened at the 
sight of that noble animal, and at hearing the 
bells which at that time were part of the trappings 
of the Spanish horses, that they fled far into the 
country, and Velasquez having sent a detachment 
to join Narvaez, with the greatest ease he became 
absolute master of that province. 

The fine and extensive island of Cuba, which is 
situated between 20"" and 23^ north latitude^ is 
upwards of 800 miles in length from east to west, 
and generally about seventy broad. It lies about 
fifty miles west of Hispaniola, and seventy-five 
north of Jamaica. To the south are a great num- 
ber of small islands, to which Christopher Colum- 
bus gave the name of the Queen s Garden, and to 



1 68 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

the north are a smaller number, which Velasquez 
named the King's Garden. The whole island of 
Cuba is very pleasant, and more temperate than 
Hispaniola. On the most easterly point there are 
mountains of a very great heiglit, which extend 
ninety miles, and through the middle runs a 
ridge of hills from east to wTst, whence very fine 
rivers and brooks flow down both to the north and 
south, through the plain countries which lie on 
the coast, till, after a short course, they discharge 
themselves on each side into the sea. It has many 
fine harbours, particularly on the southern coast, 
where is the harbour of St. Jago in the form 
of a cross ; also of Xaquas, to which ships pass 
through a narrow mouth not above a crossbow 
shot over, and then turn into the open pait, which 
is about ten leagues in compass, and where there 
are three small islands, so situated that ships may 
be fastened to stakes fixed in the ground, under 
shelter of the mountains, and lie 'safe from the 
winds blowing from any part of the compass. On 
the north side are also several good harbours, the 
best of which is that now called the Havannah. 

When this island was first planted, it w^as so 
covered with woods that a person might travel near 
six-hundred and ninety miles under trees of various 
sorts, particularly red cedars, out of the trunks 
of which the natives made canoes able to contain 
fifty or sixty persons. They had also storax-trees 
and wild vines, the stems of which were as thick 
as a man's body, and a variety of fruit-trees; yet 
there were greater quantities of Indian corn here 



WESTEEN WORLD. 169 

than in any other part of the West Indies. At 
the arrival of the Spaniards, Cuba ^Yas stocked 
with abundance of birds^ particularly pigeons, 
portridgss, flamingoes, and parroquets ; of these 
last there were infinite multitudes, which wdien 
young were esteemed excellent food : there were 
few land animals except rabbits, like those in 
Ilispaniola ; but, on the other hand, there were 
abundance of excellent tortoises or sea-turtle, and 
both the sea and rivers abounded with fish. 

After the Spaniards had been settled there some 
time, they found considerable quantities of gold in 
the rivers, some of which was very pure, but the 
greatest part was of less value than that of His- 
paniola or Porto Eico. Though the original in- 
habitants w^ere very numerous, they have been long 
since destroj^d by the cruelty of the Spaniards. St. 
Jago, in the south part of the island, was esteemed 
the capital ; but the Havannah, on the north-west, 
is by far the most considerable place, on account 
of its trade, and of being the annual rendezvous of 
the galleons on their return to Spain. 



170 mSCOVEEIES IK THE 



CHAPTER IX 

The drscoveries made on the continent by Francis Hernan- 
dez de Cordova, lieutenant of Diego de Yelasquez — Cor- 
dova's misfortunes and hardships — He returns to Cuba — His 
death. 

Don Diego, or James de Velasquez, having re- 
duced the best part of Cuba, and planted several 
Spanish colonies upon that island, began to be very 
desirous of shaking off the authority of Admiral Di- 
ego Columbus, under whom he had hitherto acted. 
The admiral, who bad been recalled to Spain, opposed 
this project to the utmost of his power; but he 
had so little influence at that ungrateful court, 
that he was unable to carry his point ; and, though 
Yelasquez was still left accountable to him for the 
exercise of his authority, yet he was not allowed to 
recall him without the consent of the crown ; and 
this so well answered Velasquez's purpose, that 
he resolved immediately to execute a project he 
had long meditated, of fitting out ships for Task- 
ing discoveries. No sooner were his intentions 
known, than numbers of the Spanish planters who 
had grown rich, offered to contribute large sums 
towards carrying it into execution, among these 
was Francis Hernandez de Cordova, a person of 
great wealth and bravery, who offered to go as 
captain. 



^^ESTERN WORLD. 171 

CordoTa, having fitted out two ships and a bri- 
gantine, took a hundred and ten soldiers on board, 
and -sailed from Havannah on the 8th of February, 
1517. After twenty-two days at sea, during whicli 
time they lay to at night, they saw land, and from 
their ships observed a large town at about two 
leagues from the coast. As they drew near, two 
canoes full of men appeared; the Spaniards hailed 
them, and thirty Indians went on board the Com- 
modore^ dressed in jackets without sleeves, and with 
pieces of cloth wrapped about their waists. The 
Spaniards gave them meat, wine, and strings of 
beads, after which the Indians retired and made 
signs that they would return the next day with 
more canoes to carry the Spaniards on shore, seem- 
ing much to admire the ships, the men, their beads, 
clothes, arms, and all things they had never seen 
before. 

The next day, as indicated, the Indians returned 
with twelve canoes, on board of which v/as the 
cacique, who cried out " Conez cotoche," or '' Come 
to my house," from which the place received the 
name of Cape Cotoche. The Spaniards then took 
their arms and w^ent ashore, where an infinite 
number of the natives waited to see them ; Cordova 
even resolved to attend the cacique to his house, 
in order to take a view of the country ; but having 
entered a wood, the cacique gave a signal, and 
instantly a multitude of men started from an 
ambuscade in which they had been concealed. 
They were dressed in jackets of quilted cotton, to 
secure them from being wounded by arrows, and 



I 



172 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

bad wooden swords edged with flint, spears, bows 
and arrows, slings^ and targets; their faces were 
painted of several colours, and on their heads they 
wore plumes of feathers : these with a loud shout 
discharged a shower of stories and arrows, and 
then rushing on the Spaniards, fought with much 
resolution, till being thrown into disorder by the dis- 
charge of the muskets and crossbows^ as well as by 
the sharjDuess of the Spanish swords, they fled, after 
having seventeen men killed and many wounded. 
In this action were taken two youths who after- 
wards became Christians, and were CciUed Julian 
and Melchior. 

The Spaniards now returned to their ships, and 
were pleased at having found people in many 
respects different from those they had hitherto 
seen, and particularly at having observed houses 
built with stone and lime, which were the first that 
had been observed in that part of the world. They 
now continued their course along the coast fifteen 
days, and then entering a bay, landed in order to 
take in fresh water, of which they were in want. 
This place being by the Indians called Qaimpeche, 
thence obtained the name of Campeche. Here 
they filled their casks with fresh water^ and were 
about to return to the ships, when they were met 
by fifty Indians, dressed like those they had seen 
before, who asked whether they came from the 
place where the sun rises, and conducted them to 
some temples built with stone, where the Spaniards 
observed several deformed idols, with blood fresh 
spilt, and from one of these temples came two 



WESTERN WORLD. 173 

men in white mantles^ with long black hair 
twisted up in rolls behind, and holding in their 
hands little earthen fire-pans, into which they cast 
a certain gum, and then perfuming the Spaniards, 
ordered them to depart the country on pain of 
death ; upon which they retired in good order to 
the shore, and returned to their ships. 

They now steered six days along the coast, and 
then landed at about a league's distance from a 
town called Potanchan, where they filled their 
casks with water. Here they observed a body of 
armed men advancing towards them ; but, as it 
was growing dark, they returned towards the town. 
The Spaniards now rashly resolved to stay on shore, 
and in the night were greatly alarmed by the noise 
made by the Indians ; at break of day they per- 
ceived that the first party had been joined by seve- 
ral others, and that they were entirely surrounded 
by a great army. They resolved, however, to make 
the best defence in their power, and were quickly 
under the necessity of exerting all their courage ; 
for it no sooner grew light than the Indians dis- 
charged a shower of arrows, darts, and stones, by 
which about eighty Spaniards were wounded, 
among whom was Cordova; at length, after a vigo- 
rous defence, the Spaniards, finding it impossible 
to vanquish such numbers^ made a furious onset, 
and breaking through the Indians, who pursued 
them with hideous cries, ran towards their boats. 
The boats narrowly escaped being upset by their 
crowding into them, and the natives were so eager 
to attack them, that they ran into the water to 



174 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

wound tliem with their spears. In this action 
forty-seven Spaniards were killed, five died on 
board the ship, and all the rest, except one, were 
vrounded. It was therefore resolved to burn one 
of the ships for want of hands, and to return to 
Cuba. 

One of their greatest misfortunes was, that they 
were obliged to leave their casks on shore, which 
occasioned them soon to be in great distress for 
Vv'iint of water, and some of the soundest of the 
men having landed with jars to search for a fresh 
supply, could find none but what was brackish : 
this obliged them to steer for Florida, where one 
of the pilots had been with Ponce de Leon. They 
here landed near a creek, and, having posted sen- 
tinels, dug pits, and, finding good water, drank 
some, and washed the linen for the wounded men ; 
but, when they were about to return, one of the 
sentinels having stepped aside with a hatchet to cut 
down a palmetto-tree near the creek, the other heard 
him cry out, and instantly ran to give the alarm, 
crying, '^ To sea ! to sea ! the Indians are coming." 
Many canoes were instantly seen rowing down the 
creek, filled with Indians clothed in deer-skins, and 
armed with bows and arrows, swords and spears, 
who, on landing, let fly their arrows, and wounded 
six of the soldiers ; but, as soon as they perceived 
the dreadful effects produced by the muskets and 
crossbows, they ran back to their canoes. Upon this 
the Spaniards returned with safety to their ships, 
where the men were in such distress for want of 
water, that a soldier leapt into the boat^ and, seizing 



WESTERN WORLD. 175 

ajar, drank so much that he swelled and died in two 
days. After enduring many other hardships they 
arrived at the Havannah, whence Cordova sent a 
particular account of his unfortunate voyage to the 
governor^ Diego VelasaueZ; and died of his wounds 
ten days after. 



I 



176 DISCOVERIES IN THE 



CHAPTER X. 

The discoveries made on the continent bv the command of 
James Velasquez, under John Grijalva — They land in the 
island of Cozumel, proceed to New Spain, and defeat the 
Indians of Potonchan — They then land on the banks of Eio 
de Grijalva, where thev receive presents from the Indians — 
Steering thence, they are invited on shore by the INIexicans, 
with whom they trade for gold — They afterwards visit several 
islands ; discover temples with idols and human sacrifices ; 
purchase many bright copper axes which they mistake for 
gold, and return to the island of Cuba — Grijalva falls into 
trouble. 

Notwithstanding Cordova's ill success, his ac- 
count of this voyage gave great pleasure to Velas- 
quez, who frequently declared that he ^Yas resolved 
to pursue these discoveries as soon as an opportu- 
nity offered, since, as these Indians seemed more 
civilized than others, they were probably richer; and 
this resolution was no sooner known than several 
of the principal inhabitants offered him their assis- 
tance, which enabled him to send out three ships 
and a brigantine. 

This small squadron, which was commanded by 
John Grijalva and the Captains Alverado, Montejo 
and d'Avila, who had strict orders to make what 
discoveries they could, but to attempt no settle- 



TTESTERN WOKLD. ] 77 

ments^ sailed from Cuba on the 8th of May, 1518, 
and having visited Florida^ and discovered the 
island of Cozumel, sailed along the coast of the 
continent. Eight days after they reached Poton- 
chan's town, and came to an anchor ; upon which 
the. natives, being elated with their success in driv- 
ing Cordova's men out of the country, took up 
arms, and ran to the shore, where they stood to 
hinder the Spaniards landing, at the same time 
shouting and making a great noise with their trum- 
pets and kettle-drums. The Spaniards no sooner 
approached the shore than the Indians discharged 
a shower of arrows, darts, and stones, and with 
great intrepidity ran into the water to wound tlie 
invaders with their spears ; but the latter^ im- 
mediately on landing, rushed upon them sword in 
hand, and made them give way ; for the Span- 
iards, taught by experience, began to use loose 
cotton jackets like those of the Indians, as a 
defensive armour against their arrows : however, 
three of them were killed and sixty wounded, among 
whom was Grrijalva. The boats having come to 
their assistance with the remainder of the soldiers 
who had been left on board, the Indians quitted the 
field, and the Spaniards marched to the town, where 
they found only three of the natives, who, being 
well used, were sent with some toys to allure the 
inhabitants back ; but these messengers never re- 
turned, upon which the Spaniards embarked and 
again set sail. 

Grijalva, now continuing his course by day, and 
l/mg to at night, for fear of falling among flata 



I 



178 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

and rocks, discovered the mouth of a large river ; 
but so shallow that it would only admit small ves- 
sels, and therefore they could only send up two of 
their boats well manned ; these were obliged to pro- 
ceed with great circumspection, on account of many 
armed Indians who were in canoes along the shore. 
This river, which the natives called Tabasco, the 
Spaniards named Eio de Grijalva, from their com- 
mander-in-chief; they landed at a grove of palm- 
trees about half a league from a town. The 
Indians seeing them leave their boats, about fifty 
canoes, full of armed men, moved forward, and 
stopped again at a short distance, upon which the 
Spaniards sent Melchior and Julian, the two 
Indians taken by Cordova, to inform them that 
they were come with no other view than to treat 
with them about some affairs that would give them 
pleasure. Upon this the Indians in four canoes 
drew near, and Grijalva ordered the above inter- 
preters to tell them, that he and his men were the 
subjects of a great king to whom mighty princes 
paid obedience ; that it. was reasonable they also 
should submit to him, because it would be much 
to their advantage ; and that, till the Spaniards 
could explain these affairs, they must furnish them 
with provisions. To this the Indians prudently 
replied, that they would give them provisions ; but 
that they had no lord of their own, and knew no 
reason why they, who were but strangers, should 
offer to impose a new lord upon them : that 
they ought to take heed how they made war on 
tiiem, as they had done to the people of Poton- 



WESTEEN WOKLD. 179 

clian ; for tliey had provided an army wliicli, 
according to their manner of computation, must 
amount to 24,000 men : that they knew they had 
killed and wounded above two hundred at Poton- 
chan, but that they were not so weak as those peo- 
ple. They concluded with observing, that they were 
come thither to know their will, and would make 
a very just report of what was said to a number of 
very great men, who were assembled either to treat 
of peace or to renew the war. Grijalva then gave 
them strings of beads, looking-glasses, and other 
things, charging them to bring, back an answer, 
because, if they did not, he must go to the town, 
though he should not do it any harm. Having 
thus concluded the conference, he returned to the. 
ships. 

When these persons had delivered their mes-- 
sage, all the chiefs, who were usually consulted in 
martial affairs, thought peace preferable to war, 
and immediately sent to the Spaniards a number of 
Indians loaded wdth roasted fish, poultry^ bread, 
and several sorts of fruit. : As soon as these were 
delivered, they laid some mats on the ground, and : 
placed upon them several sorts of very beautiful 
feather works. After wdiich they let the Spaniards . 
know, that their lord would come the next day to 
pay them a visit. 

Accordingly, at the time appointed the cacique 
appeared, attended by many unarmed men, and 
without showing the least suspicion went on board 
Grijalva's ship. Grijalva was a good-looking man, 
about twenty-eight years of age, and had on . a ,- 



180 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

loose coat- of crimson velvety a cap of the same, 
with other rich ornaments. He received the ca- 
cique with respect, and sitting down, they began 
a conversation of which both parties understood 
very little, except by words interpreted by Julian 
and Melchior. After some time, the cacique 
ordered an Indian to take out of the trunk he 
carried some plates of gold, and thin boards covered 
with the same metal for armour. These the ca- 
cique himself tried upon Grijalva, taking off those 
that did not fit, and applying others, till he had 
put him on a complete suit of gold armour, that 
fitted him as well as if it had been made for him. 
He also presented him various works in fine gold 
and feathers. In return, Grijalva called for a very 
fine shirt, and with his own hands put it upon the 
cacique, as he also did his great coat of crimson 
velvet. He then put on his feet a pair of new 
shoes ; and gave him some of tlie best strings of 
beads and looking-glasses, with scissors^ knives, and 
several toys made of tin, some of which he also 
gave to all the cacique's attendants. The ca- 
cique's present to Grijalva was worth about three 
thousand pieces of eight, and among the rest were 
a wooden headpiece, covered with thin plates of 
gold, and three or four masks, some of which were 
covered with stones like emeralds. The sight of 
these things made the Spaniards very eager to 
settle in a country that produced such vast wealth, 
Grijalva having received this considerable pre- 
sent, and being sensible that the Indians were not 
willing .that their guests should stay long, pro* 



WESTERN WOELD. 181 

ceeded farther, and in two days came to a town 
called Agualunco, which the Spaniards named Le 
Eambla, where the inhabitants appeared .at a dis- 
tance with targets of tortoise-shell, which, glitteriDg 
in the sun, made some of the Spaniards fancy they 
were gold. 

Sailing thence, the Spaniards saw several other 
rivers, in one of which they observed the Indians 
waving large pieces of white cloth fastened to poles, 
as if iaviting them to land ; whereupon Grijalva 
ordered Captain deMontejo to go on shore with 
all the musketeers, and twenty other soldiers, and 
in case the Indians appeared in a warlike posture, 
he should give notice, in order that succours might 
be sent him. 

It is necessary to observe that this coast is part 
of the great empire of Mexico, and that Montezuma, 
who was then seated on the throne, having heard 
of the exploits of the Spaniards^ and the pains they 
took to become acquainted with the maritime parts 
of his empire, began to grow uneasy, and longed to 
know why they were so desirous to learn the state 
of countries that did not belong to them. To ob- 
taia this intelligence, he had given directions to 
the governors of some of these provinces to enter- 
tain these strangers civilly, to seize every oppor- 
tunity of trading with them, and to send him from 
time to time such an account of their movements 
as might enable him clearly to discern what opinion 
he ought to entertain of them, and it was in con- 
fiequence of these instructions that the Indians 
made signals to invite them on shore. 



182 DISCOYEBIES IN THE 

As soon, therefore, as Montejo and his men were 
landed, the Mexicans oflfered them fowls, bread, 
and fruit, and perfumed the Spaniards by burning 
gum copal in little fire-pans. Montejo instantly 
sent advice to Grijalva of the friendly manner in 
which he had been received, upon which that 
commander came up with the ships^ landed, and 
gave the people some glass beads and necklaces. 
He was treated with great respect by the Emperor 
of Mexico's governor, and his principal officers, 
who having ordered the Indians to bring gold to 
barter, the Spaniards, during the six days they 
stayed there, purchased gold toys of several shapes, 
to the value of fifteen thousand pieces of eight. 

At length Grijalva having made presents to the 
principal persons, and taken possession of the 
country for the King of Spain, in the name of 
Diego Velasquez, embarked and touched at several 
islands, on one of which he landed with thirty 
soldiers, and found a temple in which were several 
idols, and four men dressed in long black mantles 
with hoods, who were the priests of the temple, 
and had that very day sacrificed two boys, who 
were found ripped open and their hearts taken out; 
apiece of cruelty which filled the Spaniards with 
horror and compassion. To this island, which was 
called Ulua, Grijalva gave the name of St. John 
Baptist, but it has ever since been called St. John 
de Ulua, to distinguish it from St. John de Porto 
Eico. 

Grijalva stayed here seven days, during which 
he bartered for a small quantity of gold, and 



WESTERN WORLD. 183 

sent Velasquez an account of his discoveries by 
Alverado, with all the gold and other things that 
he had obtained from the Indians. Velasquez was 
greatly pleased with the account he received ; but, 
as Alverado was desirous himself of settling a 
colony, he gave him very ill impressions of Grijalva, 
who had served him faithfully, and paid the strictest 
regard to his orders. 

In the mean time Grijalva, by the advice of the 
other captains and pilots, coasted along in sight of 
the mountains of Tuspa, and afterwards sailed to 
the mouth of the river Tarala, to which he gave 
the name of St. Anthony, and there careened one 
of the ships that was leaky. While they were 
here, many Indians came from the town at a 
league's distance, with bread, poultry, and other 
provisions, which they sold for Spanish toys ; and 
as the news of this traffic soon spread abroad, 
others came from Guazacoallo, and the rest of the 
neighbouring towns, bringing provisions, and very 
bright copper axes with painted handles : the 
Spaniards thinking these axes were gold, purchased 
six hundred of them, and the Indians would 
willingly have parted with more. 

"While the Spaniards were here, a soldier entered 
a temple that stood in the fields, whence he took 
the incense called by the Indians copal, the sacri- 
ficing knives, and some idols, which he delivered 
to the commander-in-chief, after having first taken 
off their carvings, pendants, plates and crowns ot 
gold, worth about ninety pieces of eight ; but, as 
he was not able to conceal his joy at obtaining this 



184» DISCOVERIES IN THE 

booty, Grijalva was informed of what he had don^ 
and ordered every thing to be taken from him ; 
however, he afterwards restored them to him again, 
upon his paying the fifth to the king. 

From this place Grijalva set sail for Cuba, and 
in forty-five days arrived at the port of Matancas 
in that island, with the value of four thousand 
pieces of eight in gold, besides what had been 
brought by Alverado ; but on going to pay the 
duty of the king's fifth of the copper axes, the 
purchasers had the mortification of finding them 
iTisty. In this port Grijalva received a letter from 
the governor, ordering him to hasten to the port of 
St. Jago, and to inform the men that another fleet 
was fitting out, in order to make a settlement. 
Grijalva obeyed this summons ; and, on his arrival 
at St. Jago, met with a very cold reception from 
Velasquez, who bad even the folly to abuse him for 
having so strictly obeyed his orders in not making 
a settlement. This, indeed, ought certainly to 
have preserved him from that fate, since nothing 
but a scrupulous regard to his instructions could 
restrain a man who had made great discoveries from 
taking such measures as were most likely to 
establish at once his fortune and independence. 
Grijalva contented himself with showing the in- 
structions he had received, which Velasquez looked 
upon as a tacit imputation on himself, and gave the 
command of the fleet to Hernando Cortes. This 
brings us to the celebrated expedition of that 
daring adventurer. 

The exploits of Hernando Cortes in the king- 



WESTERN WORLD, 185 

dom of Mexico, being full of information and most 
exciting details, would be too lengthy for insertion 
here. Indeed, much interesting narrative of Span- 
ish adv^entures in that country, also in Golden 
Castille and Peru, still remains to be noticed ; but 
this must form the subject of some separate volume, 
as it is now high time, as was proposed, to take a 
view of what our own countrymen have done in 
the Western World. 



183 DISCOYERIES IN THE 



CHAPTER XL 

DISCOYEEIES OF THE ENGLISH 
IN AMEEICA. 

The discoveries made by the English in America during the 
reigns of King Henry VIL and VIII — John Cabot visits 
Newfoundland — His son Sebastian discovers the continent of 
America — Mr. Hore attempts to establish a colony in New- 
foundland — Sir John Hawkins' three voyages to Guinea — 
A Brazilian chief presented to King Henry YIH — Drake's 
voyage to the Isthmus of Darien ; his dangers and daring- — 
View of the South Sea — Intelligence of treasure and disap- 
pointment — Drake plunders Santa Cruz — Seizes mules laden 
with gold and silver — Hazardous attempt to regain his pin- 
naces — Drake's return to England— Sir Humphrey Gilbert 
obtains a patent for settling in America — Takes formal pos- 
session of Newfoundland — His disasters, and loss at sea on 
his way home. 

While Christopher Columbus was performing 
his second voyage, John Cabot, a citizen of Venice, 
who had been long settled at Bristol, sailed in an 
English ship, with a view of making discoveries, 
and actually saw the coast of Newfoundland, to 
which he gave the name of Prima Vista, or First 
Seen. On the 24th of June, 1494, Cabot landed 
on an island, which he called St. John's, from dis>- 
covering it on the day of that saint. This island 
which is in the bay now called St. Lawrence, 
appeared to be extrem.ely barren; but the sea 



WESTERN WOKLD. 187 

around it abounded in jSsh, and the natives^ who 
wore the skins of bears for clothes, were armed 
with bows and arrows, pikes, wooden clubs, darta, 
and slings. 

Upon the report of this discovery, King Henry 
VIL granted a patent to John Cabot and his three 
sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sanchius, dated the 
5th of March, 1495, with authority to sail with 
five ships to the east, west, and north, allowing 
them the full property of the countries they should 
discover, only with this reservation, that they should 
return to Bristol and pay him the fifth part of 
the clear profits of the voyage ; in consideration of 
which they were to have the exclusive right to the 
countries so discovered, and no other English sub- 
jects were to trade thither without their licenca 
He had afterwards a new grant, by which he had 
leave to take ships out of any of the ports of 
England of the burden of two hundred tons, 
John, however, dying before the squadron set sail, 
his son Sebastian made a proposal to the king, to 
discover a north-west passage to the Indies, and 
for that purpose had a ship manned and victualled 
at Bristol at the king's expense, and three or four 
other ships were fitted out by some of the mer- 
chants of that city. 

With this squadron, Sebastian set sail in May 
1497, and on the 11th of June reached latitude 67° 
30', where, finding the sea still open, he imagined 
that he might have passed through into the Indian 
sea ; but his crew mutinying, he was obliged to 
return into latitude 56°, and thence steered along 



188 DISCO^rEKIES IX THR 

the continent of iVmerica, till he came into 38^ on 
the coast which was afterwards called Florida, 
where provisions growing short, he steered back, 
and, having touched at Newfoundland, returned to 
England. 

Sebastian Cabot was thus the first discoverer of 
the continent of America, which Columbus did not 
see till a year after, and the first w^ho took a view 
of Florida, which was visited by Juan Ponce do 
Leon in 1512, who gave it the name of Florida, 
took possession of it for the king of Spain, and 
usually passes for the first discoverer. This voy- 
age gave great light to Ferdinand Magellan, and 
induced him confidently to afiirm that such a 
passage might be found by the south, and this be 
happily effected twenty-two years after. 

Sebastian Cabot after this entered into the 
Spanish service, when he discovered the river 
Plata, and sailed up it three hundred and sixty 
miles. He was then made grand pilot of Spain ; 
but, after residing for some time at Seville in that 
character, he returned to England, and was em- 
ployed by King Henry YHL, in conjunction with 
Sir Thomas Pert, vice-admiral of England. 
These two commanders, in 1516, sailed with two 
ships of two hundred and fifty tons to the coast of 
Brazil, and afterwards visited the Spanish islands 
of St. Domingo and St. John Porto de Rico. In 
the last of these islands they traded, and paid for 
what they had, by giving in exchange vessels made 
of pewter. 

The war with Scotland put an end to any farther 



WESTERN WORLD. 189 

discovenes during this reign. Bat at length i\Ir. 
Hore, a merchant of London^ resolved to attempt a 
settlement in Newfoundland, and to go thither 
himself. This gentleman received all the en- 
couragement he could expect from King Henry 
VIII., and many young men of fortune and distin- 
guished rank offered to share both the expense and 
danger of the undertaking ; he therefore fitted out 
two ships, which set sail about the end of April, 
1536, with one hundred and twenty men on board, 
including thirty persons of character. 

Within the space of two months they arrived at 
Cape Breton, whence they sailed round a great 
part of Newfoundland to Penguin island, in the 
latitude of 50*^ 40', where they found plenty of the 
fowls from which the island takes its name. They 
afterwards went on shore upon the east side of 
Newfoundland, and had an accidental view of a 
boatful of the natives, wdiom they pursued both 
by sea and land, but were not able to overtake. 
They stayed here till their provisions began to 
grow very short, and, being then afraid to trust 
themselves at sea in such a condition, delayed 
going on board till they were in so great distress that 
they actually ate one another ; some of them killed 
their companions privately in the wood, hid them, 
and then secretly roasted and ate their flesh. But 
when this horrid practice came to the knowledge 
of their commander, by a judicious and pathetic 
appeal he brought them to resolve rather to live 
upon grass and weeds, than to subsist anj longer 
bj such a detestable method. 



190 DISCOYEKIES IX THE 

Soon after, a French ship ^Yell manned and 

victualled put into the harbour ; of this the Eng- 
lish, prompted by the irresistible calls of hunger^ 
resolved to take advantage, and, being weary of a 
country in which they had endured such miseries, 
waited for a fair opportunity, and then seizing the 
French ship, left their owd, and sailed directly for 
the coast of England. They had a prosperous 
voyage, and arrived at St. Ives, in Cornwall, about 
the end of October, but so much altered that tiieir 
nearest relations did not know them. 

Some months after, the Frenchmen came to 
England to complain that the EngHsh had run 
away with their ship, and that they would have 
perished with hunger if they had not supported 
themselves by fishing. King Henry examined 
closely into the affair, and^ finding that extreme 
want was the sole cause of an action that could be 
no otherwise justified, he satisfied the French to 
the full extent of their demands, and pardoned 
his own subjects for a crime which necessity alone 
had forced them to commit. 

To these beginnings we owe the Newfoundland 
trade. This island is of a triangular figure, 350 
miles in length from north to south, and 200 miles 
in breadth at the base from east to west, where 
broadest. On the north it - is separated from the 
continent by the narrow straits of Belleisle ; on 
the west it has the bay of St. Lawrence ; on the 
south Cape Breton ; and on the east the ocean. 
There is no country in tlie world better furnished 
with harbourS; and it is abundantly supplied with 



WESTERN WORLD. 191 

fresh water. The climate in summer is very hot, 
and in winter so cold that the snow lies upon the 
ground at least five months, notliwithstanding it 
is situated in between 47° and 52° of north latitude, 
and consequently more to the south than England. 
It produces filberts, strawberries, some kinds of 
clierrieSj and other hardy fruits. Corn and hay 
succeed but indiff'erently. yet it afifords great quanti- 
ties of venison, wild-fowl, and fish; so that, with dry 
food in abundance from Europe, people may live 
there very comfortably even in winter, since the 
country produces plenty of fuel. In short, notwith- 
standing the dreadful distress of the men w^ho first 
attempted a settlement in this island, and notwith- 
standing its bleakness and barrenness, it soon 
became of the utmost consequence ; for, towards the 
dose of Queen Elizabeth's reign, there w^ere 
annually employed upon its coast upwards of two 
hundred fishing-vessels, on board of which were 
above eight thousand seamen. 

Some time after, Mr. William Hawkins, tlie 
father of the famous Sir John Hawkins, and the 
grandfather of Sir Kichard Haw^kins, both eminent 
seamen, an officer in King Henry Vlll.th's navy, 
made three prosperous voyages to Guinea, and from 
thence across the Atlantic ocean to Brazil, where 
he had some dealings wdth the prince or chief of 
the Brazilians, who expressed a desire of seeing 
England, but at the same time showed some 
aispicion of not obtaining leave to return home. 
To remove this distrust, Captain Hawkins very 
readily offered to leave Mr. ^lartin Cockram; whom 



192 DISCOVERIES m THE 

the Indians esteemed next to himself, as an 
hostage, and this offer was readily accepted. 

This Brazilian chief he brought over, and 
presented to King Henry, who received and 
entertained him very kindly, and, after a year's stay 
in England, generously dismissed him. In his 
passage home, the Indian chief unhappily died, 
which gave all on board great concern ; for they 
were apprehensive that Mr. Cockram would be 
either punished with death, or detained during 
life. Their fears, however, were ill-founded ; for 
the Brazilians having lieard what they had to 
allege, readily concluded that it was far from being 
likely that they would dare to return to their coun- 
try if they had ill-used their king, and that it was 
out of their power to preserve his life if he was 
attacked by sickness. They therefore freely set Mr. 
Cockram at liberty, kindly entertained the men, 
and furnished the ship with. a sufficient cargo for 
England. 

In the following reign, adventurers were unsuc- 
cessfully employed in discovering either a north- 
east or a north-west passage, in hope of grasping the 
whole trade of the Indies ; and, by bending all their 
strength that way, they neglected to prosecute tho^ 
discoveries that might have been attended with 
success. But in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who 
made the naval power of the nation her peculiar care^ 
discoveries were carried on with fresh vigour ; and, 
between 'the years 1562 and 1568, Captain John 
Hawkins made three voyages to the West Indies, 
and^ in all but the last, had very great success. la 



WESTERN WORLD. 193 

the year 1572, Captain Francis Drake also made 
his famous expedition into the West Indies. 

Drake, who had accompanied his kinsman Sir 
John Hawkins in his last expedition, set sail from 
Plymouth on the 24th of May, 1572, in the Pasca, 
of seventy tons burthen, with the Swan of two 
hundred and fifty tons, commanded by his brother 
John Drake. He had on board seventy-three men 
and boys, and had not only a good stock of ammu- 
nition and a year's provisions, but had three pin- 
naces stowed on board in pieces, that might when 
needed be speedily joined together. He made 
the Canary Islands on the 2nd of June, and on 
the 29th passed between Guadaloupe and Domi- 
nica, on the south side of which he came to an 
anchor, and finding several cottages formed of the 
boughs of palm-trees, but no sign of inhabitants, 
he inferred that these were the occasional residence 
of fishermen. 

Having stayed here three days, heweighed anchor, 
and, steering towards the mainland of America, 
made Port Pheasant, where h^ put together his 
pinnaces, and was soon after joined by James 
Eawse, in a bark belonging to the Isle of Wight, 
with thirty men, who had been informed that he 
designed to surprise Nombre de Dios. 

They left this place in company on the 22nd 
of July, and three days after took two small vessels 
from Nombre de Dios laden with planks, by which 
they learned that some soldiers were daily ex- 
pected at that town from the governor of Panama, 
to protect the inhabitants from the Symerons, a 

o 



194 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

people inhabiting the country between that place 
and Panama. 

Drake having treated these people civilly, set 
them on shore, judging it impossible for them to 
convey any intelligence about him to the town 
before his arrival, it being at a considerable dis- 
tance by land ; then taking fifty-three men wdth 
drums, trumpets, and warlike stores, he left the 
rest of "his company with their ships, under the 
care of Captain Eawse, in a secure and secret 
situation, and proceeded in the pinnaces, keeping 
all day c-ose under the shore, and rowing hard at 
night, till he entered the harbour. He there got 
between the town and a small ship just arrived 
from Old Spain, which he forced to the other side 
of the bay to prevent her giving the alarm, and 
then landing wdthout resistance, marched up to 
the fort, where there was but one man, who fled 
to alarm the place.. When the captain entered 
he found no more than six brass guns and a few 
culverins, which he dismounted. 

Drake, then leaving a few of his men to keep 
possession of the fort, and some others to guard the 
pinnaces, marched to some high ground, w^here 
he divided the sailors into two parties of sixteen 
men each. One, under the command of John 
Oxenham, he ordered to enter the east end of the 
town, near the market-place ; while he himself^ 
\vith drums beating and colours flying, led the 
rest up the principal street. 

The inhabitants had drawn themselves up near 
the governor's house, to cover the gate leading 



WESTERN WORLD. 195 ^ 

to Panama^ in order to secure a retreat ; but tliey. 
were so terrified at the sight of the English, that, . 
after firing two or three times, they threw down 
their arms and fled with the utmost precipitation. 
The alarm bell still continued ringing, but Drake 
ordered it to be silenced, and marched towards 
the Eoyal Treasury, which was then immensely 
rich ; the door of the storehouse having been in 
the confusion left open, he saw a prodigious num- 
ber of large silver bars, none of which the men 
were allowed to meddle with; but unhappily at 
this instant a violent storm of thunder, lightning, 
and rain damaged their arms, and filled the men 
with apprehension that their pinnaces were in 
danger. This threw them into confusion; how- 
ever Drake boldly insisted upon their proceeding, . 
and w^ould doubtless have executed his design of 
plundering the Treasury ; .: but having become 
faint through loss of blood, o»3asioned by a 
w^ound in his leg, which he had hitherto con- 
cealed, he w'as wdth much , difficulty persuaded 
to have it dressed, and to allow himself to be 
carried on board one of the pinnaces. This ob- 
lio-ed the rest to retire to theiv vessels, with the 
loss of one man. 

They now proceeded to a small but well-stocked 
island, about two leagues from the town, greatly 
mortified at leaving such immense wealth behind 
them. Here they stayed to refresh themselves, and 
then proceeded to their ships, which they reached 
on the 1st of August, when Captain Eawse, hav^ 
ing no hope of meeting with suceess/since they. 



1:96 DISCOVEKIES IN THE 

were now -certainly discovered all along the coast^ 
resolved to leave them. 

Drake stayed six days and then sailed for Cartha- 
gena, where he soon found, by the firing of ordi- 
nance and ringing of bells, tlmt he was discovered. 
He seized an outward bound ship of two hundred 
and forty tons burden that lay in the roads, and two 
smaller vessels, despatched thither from Nombre 
de Dios to give notice of his being on the coast ; 
but he treated those on board with great civility, 
and set them on shore. 

He now resolved to sink the Swan^ and, knowing 
that the sailors would oppose it, prevailed on the 
carpenter to bore three holes in her bottom^ when, 
the water pouring in, they removed her cargo, and 
then set fire to her to prevent her falling into the 
enemy^s hands. 

When this was done, he appointed his brother 
to command his own ship, and went himself on 
board one of the pinnaces. He soon found a con- 
venient fertile spot on the^oast of Darien, proper 
for erecting tents for his men, and preparing such 
warlike stores as he most wanted. They were 
here perfectly covered from view, and the vessel 
lay entirely concealed in a neighbouring creek, by 
which means Drake hoped to raise a belief that he 
had entirely left the coast. 

Having stayed here till the 8th of September, 
he left his brother to take care of the ship, and, 
taking part of the men, proceeded with two pin- 
naces for the Eio Grande, keeping as much as 
\xossible out of sight He landed his men about 



WESTERN WORLD. 197 

two leagues to the westward of Garthagena, where- 
the Indians supplied him' with cattle and other 
fresh provisions, for which he gave them some 
trifles in exchange. The next day he made the 
mouth of the river, where they had a terrible 
storm, and when that was over, the men were 
much pestered with musquitoes ; against the at- 
tacks of which they defended themselves by rubbing 
their bodies with lemon-juice. 

They found the channel of the Rio Grande 
twenty-three fathoms deep, and so^ broad that it 
required a very good eye to see from shore to shore. 
Here they saw several houses ;: and a Spaniard 
beckoning to them, they made towards the land, 
but when he found that they were not his country- 
men, as he had at first imagined, he betook him- 
self to flight. They however landed, and found 
some cheese, white rusks, bacon, several sort& of 
sweetmeats, and a considerable quantity of sugary 
out of which they supplied their vessels with as 
much as they wanted. 

Drake now sailed back to his brother, and by 
the way boarded several vessels in the hope of 
finding gold, but they were laden only with pro- 
visions and other necessaries. Of these he took a 
great quantity, and disposed of them in an island 
in such a manner, that if any part of it should be 
surprised by the Spaniards, there w^ould still be a 
sufficient supply left in case he should stand in 
need. During his absence his brother John had 
concluded a league of friendship with the Sy- 
merons, whom he promised to assist against the 



198 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

Spaniards^ from whom they had lately taken a 
large quantity of gold and silver, which they had 
thrown into the river ; for, as they set no value on 
these metals, they had no other motive for seizing 
them than that of exasperating their enemies. 

As it was unusual for the Spaniards to bring 
down their treasures during the rainy season, 
which was now approaching, Drake resolved to 
cruise in those seas till the time of their setting 
out : during his cruise he plundered a great number 
of ships, but unhappily his brother John was slain 
in gallantly boarding a frigate. Upon this he 
moored his ship, and resolved to appear no more 
till the Spanish treasure had set out for Nombre 
de Dios. However, while he thus lay by, several 
of his men died, and among them his brother, 
Joseph Drake. 

Being at length informed by the Symerons that 
the treasure had set out, he resolved by their 
assistance to march overland to Panama ; these 
people not only consented to serve him for guides, 
but to carry a large quantity of provisions ; and 
when those failed, they agreed to supply him with 
more, by the help of their bows and arrows. 

It was the 3rd of February, 1573, when they 
-set off, being forty- eight in company, eighteen of 
whom were English, who had nothing to incom- 
mode them but their arms. On the third day of 
their march they arrived at a town belonging to 
the Symerons situated on the side of a hill, near 
a river, and surrounded by a high mud wall. 
The inhabitants had a very neat appearance; 



WESTERN' WORLD. 199 

their dress differed but little from that of the 
Spaniards, and they received their visiters with 
great civility. They seemed to be in want of 
nothing, having all kinds of provisions in abun- 
dance. This town was thirty-five leagues from 
Nombre de Dios, and fifty-five from Panama. It 
was constantly guarded against the Spaniards; 
and the natives having the most implacable 
hatred against that people, they often surprised 
and cut them off" in the woods. 

After staying there only one night Drake left 
this place, and then marching ten days ascended 3, 
very high hill, where, from a tree pointed out to 
him by the Symerons, he beheld the North Sea 
which he had left on the one hand, and the South 
Sea on the other, and from that moment he re- 
solved, if possible, to sail thither in an English 
ship. 

Panama being now frequently '■ in sight, he 
thought it prudent to keep his men as closely 
together as possible ; and, as their success depended 
on their being concealed, they struck out of the 
common road, and reached a grove in the way to 
Nombre de Dios, at a small distance from Panama. 
Here Drake sent a Symeron in disguise to act as a 
spy, who soon returned with intelligence that the 
treasurer of Lima was to leave that very night, 
with his family, for Nombre de Dios, in order to 
embark for Spain, attended by fourteen mules, some 
of which were laden with gold, others with silver, 
and one with valuable jewels ; and that the same 
night two caravans would pass the same way, with 



200 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

fifty mules in each, laden with provisions and a 
small quantity of silver. This intelligence was 
soon after confirmed by a sentinel, whom they 
were so fortunate as to seize. 

Upon receiving this information, Drake concealed 
himself with half his men fifty paces from the 
highway, w^iile John Oxenham, and one of the 
Symeron chiefs,. posted themselves with the other 
half on the opposite side. In this manner things 
were disposed, when one of the men who had 
drunk too much got up to see what was coming, at 
the instant when the mules laden with provisions 
w^ere passing by. Drake had given strict orders 
that not the least notice should be taken of these ; 
but this man beino; dressed in a white shirt, 
which was the mark of distinction worn by the 
English, was perceived by a Spaniard, who spread 
the alarm, so that the treasurer turned his bag- 
gage out of the road, and only the mules with 
provisions came forward, some of which they 
seized ; but, to their great mortification, they got 
only about two horse-loads of silver. 

Having stayed to refresh themselves, they 
mounted the mules, and proceeded towards Santa 
Cruz, setting their beasts at liberty on approach- 
ing the town. They were now met by a party of 
soldiers, who summoned them to surrender, and 
promised to give them kind treatment. The 
English laughed at this proposal, and received the 
enemy's fire, which they so effectually returned 
that they put them to flight, and briskly following 
the pursuit, entered the town with them, the Sy- 



WESTERN WORLD. 201 

merons supporting them through the whole action 
with the greatest bravery. 

Santa Cruz then consisted of about fifty neat 
houses, with a governor and other ofiicers, w^ith 
warehouses for receiving the Spanish goods which 
were brought thither from Is ombre de Dios up the 
river Chagre, and thence carried by mules to 
Panama. Drake here made an equal division of 
the plunder he found in the town among his own 
men and the Symerons. 

There were at that time at Santa Cruz three 
ladies who came hither to be confined, the air 
being much better than at Xombre de Dios, to 
which city they belonged ; and, as it was Drake's 
constant practice to behave upon all occasions with 
as much humanity and decorum as possible, he was 
no sooner informed of their situation than he gave 
orders that they should be especially protected, 
and soon after visited them himself, to prevent 
their entertaining, any unjust apprehension of his 
conduct. 

Though Drake was resolved to stay some time 
longer upon the coast, he began to be uneasy for 
his ship, from which he had been absent above a 
fortnight. He therefore returned to it wdth all the 
expedition possible, and to his great joy found 
every thing in as good order as he could desire. 

The Symerons now proposed making an attack 
on the house of Pezoro, an avaricious Spaniard 
deeply concerned in the mines, whose income 
amounted to above £200 a-day, which he con- 
stantly locked up in chests. He lived near Yeragna., 



202 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

a town to the west of Nombre de Dios ; and one 
of the Symerons, who had been his slave and had 
fled from his tyranny, promised to guide them to 
his treasures. But, having only a small stock of 
provisions remaining, Drake thought it more 
necessary to obtain a fresh supply, in order to pre- 
serve the health and vigour of his men ; Oxenham 
was therefore ordered to proceed with one of the 
frigates towards Toulon, and to bring off all the 
provisions he could meet with, while Drake 
resolved to ply off the Cabezas, in hopes of be- 
coming master of some of the treasure barks that 
pass and repass between Nicaragua and Veragua. 
He thus wisely avoided the expedition against 
Pezoro, which would have been extremely labori- 
ous, as his men must have marched through a con- 
siderable tract of country. During this cruise ho 
seized only a small vessel, in which was some gold 
and a Genoese pilot, who informed him that the 
English had every where spread an universal 
terror ; while Oxenham took but one frigate, 
wherein were about two hundred cocks and hens, 
twenty-eight hogs, and a considerable quantity of 
maize. But, what w^as of more consequence, he 
learnt from the prisoners, that two galleys had 
been built at Nombre de Dios in order to serve as 
a convoy to the Chagre fleet, the treasures of which 
now principally engrossed Drake's attention. 

While things were in this situation, the English 
w^ere alarmed by observing a sail bearing down 
upon them, which, however, proved to be only a 
French ship of about eighty tons burden, the crew 



WESTERN WORLD. 203 

of which were in great want of water, with which 
Drake ordered them to be supplied ; and^ when 
they were informed of his designs, they offered to 
join him, which after some deliberation was per- 
mitted. 

Drake, now leaving the two ships in a safe 
harbour, manned the frigate and two pinnaces 
with fifteen English and Symerons, and twenty 
French, and wath this force steered to the Eio 
Francisco, where, the water being shallow, he left 
the frigate, with orders to lie close till the return 
of the pinnaces. In these he proceeded with his 
forces as far up the river Francisco as was thought 
convenient ; and then landing, all marched forward 
with great regularity and silence^ guided by the 
Symerons, till they came within a mile of the high- 
road, when they refreshed- themselves, and took up 
their quarters. 

The next day they were agreeably surprised 
by the noise of the bells hung about the mules ; 
they set out to attack them, and found three 
caravans near together, two of which consisted of 
seventy mules each, and one of fifty, all of them 
richly laden with gold and silver. They had a 
guard of forty-five soldiers, who fired on the 
approach of the English and French, and then 
retreated in order to call assistance. The Frencli 
captain was wounded and one Symeron killed. 
The English and French made the best use 
possible of their time, loaded themselves with as 
many wedges of gold and silver as they could 
carry, and, having buried the rest in the sand, 



2C4 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

retreated towards the river, leaving behind them 
the French captain, who had fainted in the woods 
from loss of blood, and a French sailor, who had 
overloaded himself with gold. 

The next day they reached the Rio Francisco, 
where, not finding the pinnaces, they began to fear 
they were lost, and this appeared the more probable 
as seven Spanish pinnaces appeared hovering at a 
distance ; but a sudden gust of wind, attended with 
rain, obliged the Spaniards to sheer off. 

Drake was much concerned at the apprehension 
that, if his pinnaces were taken, tlie poor men 
would be put to torture to make them discover 
where his frigate and ships were; but being 
sensible that, though this should really be the case, 
it would be some time before they could reach the 
ships, he assisted his men in making a raft, in 
order to attempt to get on board before the enemy. 
In this attempt he was assisted only by one 
Englishman, two hardy Frenchmen, and a Symeron, 
who generously endeavoured to persuade him, in 
case his ships were destroyed, to live among those 
of his nation, who would do every thing in their 
power to serve him. 

Having lashed the raft pretty securely, fixed a 
kind of rudder, and erected a sail made of a 
biscuit bag, these brave fellows committed them- 
selves to the mercy of the sea, sitting up to their 
waists, and sometimes up to their arm-pits in water, 
and, after a fatiguing voyage of about six hours, 
observed the pinnaces lying behind a point, where 
they had cast anchor. 



WESTERN WORLD. 205 

Upon tliis joyful sight Drake ran the raft on the 
nearest shore, and went to them by land, where, 
after keeping his company for some time in sus- 
pense, he informed them of his vast success, and 
also of the loss of their captain and a sailor. He was 
now told that the pinnaces were prevented from 
steering up to Eio Francisco at the time appointed, 
by a hard gale of wind. They, however, made a 
shift to reach that river at night, where they took 
in their comrades with the treasure, and then 
steered directly for the frigate and the ships ; 
and, having come up with them, the captain 
divided the gold and silver, to their mutual 
satisfaction, equally between the English and 
French. 

A few days after, Drake sent a detachment of 
twelve English and sixteen Symerons to bring 
oS the rest of the treasure ; but they could find 
only thirteen bars of silver and some wedges of 
gold ; for the rest had been discovered and carried 
away, and even the ground dug up for a mile 
round. They however brought these off, and 
also one of the Frenchmen, who, though he had 
been left behind, had the happiness to escape from 
the Spaniards. 

Drake's thoughts were now bent on returniuo* 
home; having dismissed the French ship, he 
steered to Cape Cabezas, taking several Spanish 
vessels, laden with provisions, by the way. At this 
last pla.ce they stayed seven day^s, in which time they 
took their pinnaces to pieces, and gave the 
Symerons all the iron work, of which they were 



206 DISCOVERIES m THE 

extremely fond, and whatever else they chose. 
Drake also made them several presents of linen, 
and silks for their wives and female relations ; and 
having given to one of them a very handsome 
cutlass, he was, in return, presented with four 
wedges of gold ; but he no sooner received them 
than he threw them into the common stock, 
declaring that he thought it would be unjust not 
to share the price of the cutlass with those who 
had bought it, and had assisted in fitting him out 
— a noble instance of disinterested integrity ! 

On leaving these friendly people, the English 
made some small prizes, and, arriving at Cape St. 
Anthony, took in a supply of turtle and their eggs, 
which were of great service during the rest of their 
voyage. Being soon after in want of water, 
there happily fell such a prodigious shower of rain 
as afforded them a sufficient quantity without 
touching, as they intended, at Newfoundland : they 
therefore stretched over from Florida to the isles 
of Scilly, and came to anchor in Plymouth harbour 
on the 9th of August, 1573^ when, though the 
people were at church, upon hearing the news all 
instantly hurried out, and ran to the shore, to 
welcome Drake and his men on their happy return 
from this successful expedition. 

Drake's good fortune encouraged others to follow 
his example, and in a very short time English 
privateers made various voyages into all parts of 
America ; and pilots capable of navigating ships to 
any part of the known world became so numerous, 
that such projects were daily set on foot as in 



WESTERN WORLD. 207 

former ages would have been thought imprac- 
ticable. 

Not long after Drake's return, Sir Humphry 
Gilbert, a gentleman of Devonshire, represented 
to Queen Elizabeth the expediency of settling all 
those countries upon the continent of America, 
which had been formerly discovered by Sebastian 
Cabot, in order to prevent them falling into the 
hands of the French. The queen granted him 
letters-patent to discover, plant, settle, and even 
to fortify and build castles, in any of the northern 
countries, not then in the possession of any Chris- 
tian prince. 

Upon this encouragement Gilbert applied him- 
self to his friends and relations, in order to form a 
society capable of carrying this design into execu- 
tion. In this, however, he met wi:h many difficul- 
ties ; notwithstanding which he put to sea, but his 
voyage proved very unfortunate, and was attended 
with the loss of one of his best ships. After this 
severe blow, he sold his estates in order to furnish 
the necessary expenses of another squadron, and 
this time several gentlemen of rank and fortune 
agreed to go with him. 

This squadron consisted of the following vessels: 
the Delight of 120 tons, in which went Sir Hum- 
phry himself ; the bark Ealeigh, fitted out by Mr. 
Walter Raleigh, of 200 tons ; the Golden Hind, ol 
40 tons; the Swallow of 40 tons; and the Squirrel 
of 10 tons; having on board in all two hundred and 
sixty men, among whom were many shipwrights, 
masons, carpenters, smiths, miners, and refiners. 



208 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

It was resolved by the proprietors that the fleet 
should sail to Newfoundland, and, having taken in 
provisions there, proceed to the south, and not pass 
by any river or bay worthy of notice without ex- 
amining it. On the 11th of June, 1583, this fleet 
set sail from Plymouth; but on the 13th the 
Ealeigh, commanded by Captain Butler, left the 
fleet, under pretence that the captain and his men 
were suddenly taken ill of a contagious disease. 
On the 30th of July they saw land in about the 
latitude of 51^, and coasted along it to the south, 
and on the 3rd of August entered St. John's 
harbour in Newfoundland, wdiere they found the 
Squirrel, which had been -separated from them, 
riding at anchor in the mouth of the harbour, 
having been refused entrance by the vessels that 
were fishing W'ithin it, being about thirty-six sail 
of all -nations. 

Sir Humphry having sent his boat to inform 
the masters of the fishing-barks that he had a 
commission from the queen to take possession of 
those lands for the crown of England, they sub- 
mitted to the levying of a tax of provisions upon 
each ship for supplying the wants of his squadron, 
and allowed him to enter the harbour. 

The next day, he and his company were con- 
ducted on shore by the masters of the English 
fishing-vessels; and on the 5th, having caused a 
tent to be set up in view of the ships in the 
harbour, attended by all under his command, he 
summoned the merchants and masters, both Eng- 
M&h. and foreigners, to be present at his taking a 



WESTERN WORLD. 209 

formal and solemn possession of those territories. 
As soon as they were assembled, he caused his com- 
mission under the great seal of England to be 
openly read before them, and to be interpreted to 
those who were strangers to the English tongue ; 
which being done, he declared that he took pos- 
session of the harbour of St. -John's, and two hun- 
dred leagues every way, investing her majesty with 
the title and dignity thereof, and then had a turf of 
soil delivered ^). to him in token of possession also 
for himself, his heirs, and assigns for ever. 

After this formal manner of taking possession, 
he had the country examined, and some pieces of 
ore brought to him, some of which were said to be 
of silver, and of this he had the most positive 
assurance from a Saxon miner in his company. 
Having taken in a supply of provisions, he found 
himself obliged to proceed on his discoveries to the 
southward : for some of his men having fallen sick 
and died, and others having deserted him, the 
number of his people was so lessened as to oblige 
him to leave the Swallow behind. 

Sir Humphry now went on board the Squirrel, 
that small vessel being best adapted for discover- 
ing the coast, on account of her being able to run 
into every creek ; and on the 20th of August he 
sailed from the harbour of St. John with three 
ships. The next night they reached Cape Eace. 
which is twenty-five leagues distant, and thence 
sailed about eighty-seven leagues towards Cape 
Bi'eton. 



210 



DISCOVERIES IN THE 



On the 29th they had a violent storm, with rnin, 
and so thick a mist that they could not see a cable's 
length before them. Early the next morning they 
found themselves in the midst of shoals and sands, 
upon which a signal was given to the Delight to 
steer to seaward ; but it was too late, for she im- 
mediately struck, .and her stern and hind quarters 
were soon beaten to pieces ; however, the GoL en 
Hind and the frigate bore away to the south, i iid 
with much diflSculty got clear of the shoals. 

In the Delight perished Captain Man "co 
Brown, with nearly one hundred persons. 'L.'he 
captain indeed might probably have saved his life 
if he would have left the ship immediately on ler 
striking ; but he would not be the first in sett i ; 
a bad example. In the mean time fourteen per- 
sons leaped into a small pinnace of a ton and a 
half burden, no bigger than a Thames boat. For 
some time they looked out for the captain, but not 
seeing him, they took in Mr. Clarke, tne master of 
the Delight, and one more. Being now sixteen m 
number, they cut the rope, and committed them- 
selves to the mercy of the waves, without any 
provisions or a drop of fresh water, and nothing 
to work with but one oar. The boat seeming to 
be overloaded, one Edward Headly, thinking it 
was better for some to perish than all, proposed 
that four of the number might be thrown overboard 
to lighten it, and that they should cast lots in order 
to determine who should perish; but he was o ?r- 
ruled by Mr. Clark, who, though it was propc^^-d 



WESTERN WORLD. 211 

that he should be excepted from the number, per- 
suaded his comrades to commit their safety to 
Providence. The boat was driven for six days and 
nights before the wind ; during which time these 
poor wretches had no other sustenance than some 
weeds that swam on the surface of the water. In 
this extremity of cold, w^et, hunger, and thirst^- 
Headly and one more perished on the fifth day ;- 
but the other fourteen lived till they were driven 
the seventh day ashore on the coast of Newfound- 
land, whence they sailed in a French ship to 
France, and before the end of the year returned 
to England. 

Sir Humphry, discouraged by these disasters, and 
his men being in want of necessaries, proposed 
to return to England : having, in his own opinion, - 
r ade discoveries sufficient to procure the assistance 

pessary for a new voyage in the spring. His 

3ple when he made this proposal were at first a . 

le backward ; . but, upon hearing his reasons, . 

y submitted, and, according to his advice,- 
aLered their plans. On the 2nd of September they 
passed in sight of Gape Race, and had afterwards 
such bad weather, with such high seas, that the 
people in the Hind frequently expected to see those 
in the Squirrel swallowed up, notwithstanding 
which Sir Humphry could not be persuaded to 
leave her. On the 9th the storm increased, and 
'le was again pressed to leave the frigate ; but his 
:,nswer was, " We are as near to heaven at sea as on 
land." About midnight, the Squirrel being a-head 



1 1' 



212 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

of the Golden Hind, her lights were at once ex- 
tinguished, and it was supposed she sunk that very 
instant, for she was never heard of more. 

The Golden Hind arrived safe at Falmouth on 
the 22nd of September, after having lost only one 
man in this unfortunate expedition. 



W£STEEN WOELD.. 213 



CHAPTEE Xir. 

Sir Walter Ealeigh fits out two ships, to make discoveries in 
the South — Takes possession of Wokoken and Virginia — 
Interview with a native prince — Civilities ; and trade — 
Raleigh returns to England — Settlement in the Island of 
Roenocke by Sir Richard Greenville— Drake's arrival and 
assistance — Sir Richard's second attempt — More misfortunes 
— Mr. White's settlement — Abandonment of the island — 
Captain Davis sets out in search of the North- West Passage 
— His discoveries in North America-r-Cruise of the Sunshine 
and Moonshine — Davis's second voyage — G^mes with the na- 
tives — Their thieving propensities— Sickness and dissatisfac^- 
tion among the English — More adventures — Return of Cap- 
tain Davis — Raleigh sails south — Lands at Trinidad — Burns 
St. Joseph's — Sets five Indian kings at liberty — Meets with^ 
and overcomes great difficulties — Search up the Amana and 
Oronoko — Interview with the king of Aromaia — Cataracts — 
Advice of the old cacique — Sir Walter takes possession of 
many images and plates of gold — Visit to a gold mine — Re- 
Tenge on the Spaniards — Expeditions to Guiana. 

After Sir Humphry Gilbert's failure and loss^ 
the brave Sir Walter Raleigh, that unfortunate 
gentleman's half brother by the mother's side, pro^ 
cured his patent to be renewed to himself, and 
making choice of two very able sailors, Captain 
Philip Amadas and Captain Arthur Barlow,, fitted 
out two small barks. Sir Walter had observed, 
that all the attempts hitherto made had failed be- 
cause the adventurers pursued their discoveries 
from the north ; he therefore chose to proceed by 
another method, and considering all the lands on 
the continent of America, from the last settlement 



214 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

of the Spaniards to 60° north, as lying within his 
grant, he resolved to settle those first which lay 
• nearest their settlements. 

Ealeigh's two barks sailed from the west of Eng- 
land on the 27th of April, 1584, and, passing the 
Canaries, fell in with the coast of Florida on the 
2nd of July: having sailed forty leagues along the 
shore, they came on the 13th to a river, where 
they^cast anchor, landed, and took possession of 
?the country in right of the queen, and for the use 
^ of the proprietors. 

This place they afterwards found to be the 
island of Wokoken, on the coast of the country 
since called Virginia, in 34'' north latitude. In 
this island they found deer, rabbits, hares, fowls, 
vines, cedars, pines, Cyprus, sassafras, and mastic 
trees. They went to the tops of the hills that were 
.nearest the shore, whence, though they were not 
'very high, they discovered the sea on all sides, and 
found the' place to be an island of about twenty 
miles in length and six in breadth. 

It' was the third day before they saw any of 
Hho natives, and then a little boat with three of 
*them appeared. One of them going on shore, the 
English rowed up to him, when he not only waited 
their coming without any signs of fear, but readily 
went on board ; they gave him a shirt and hat, 
with some meat and wine, which he seemed to like. 
After he had with apparent satisfaction narrowly 
viewed the barks, with all that were in them, he 
went in his own boat some little distance, and 
employed himself in fishing, and in half an hour 



WESTERN WORLD, 215 

loaded his boat with fish as much as it could cany, 
and then returned to the point of land ; when, to 
show his gratitude, he divided the fish into two 
parts, and, making signs that he designed it for the 
two barks, departed. After this, the natives from 
the continent frequently repaired to the ships, 
and exchanged several sorts of skins, white coral, 
and some pearls, for toys made of tin, and other 
baubles of inconsiderable value. 

The very next day after that on which they had 
seen the three Indians, several boats appeared in 
view ; and in one of these was th^ brother of the 
king of the country, attended by forty or fifty men, 
whose features were tolerably agreeable. The 
prince made up to the English, who gave him and 
four of his chiefs presents of several toys, which 
they accepted very kindly ; but he took all, and let 
them know that none 'there had apy right to any 
thing but himself. Two days after the English let 
him see their merchandize, of which nothing seemed 
to please him more than a pewter dish, for which 
he gave twenty deer-skins ; and, having made a 
hole in the rim, he hung the dish > over his neck 
for a breast-plate, making signs that it would 
defend him against the enemies' arrows. The 
next thing he bought was a copper kettle, for 
which he gave fifty skins. 

While he thought fit to traffic with them, 
none but those like himself, who wore plates of gold 
or copper on their heads, were permitted either to 
buy or sell ; but, as soon as they had done, every 
other Indian was allowed the same liberty. They 



216 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

offered very good exchanges for hatchets, axes, and 
kniveSj and would have given any thing for swords ; 
but the English would not part with one. 

The king's brother afterwards came frequently 
on board, and would eat, drink, and be merry 
with the English ; and once he brought his wife 
and children with him, who afterwards came fre- 
quently with only their own followers. The Eng- 
lish often trusted him with goods upon his word 
to bring the value at a certain time, which he never 
failed in doing. He had a strong inclination to 
have a suit of armour and a> sword which he saw 
in one of the sliips, and would have left a large 
box of pearls in pawn for them ; but the Englis^h 
refused it, in order that he might not know they 
set any value upon pearls, till they could discover 
w^hence he got them. 

The English learned from the natives that their 
country, which appeared extremely fertile, was called 
Wingandacoa, and their king named Wingina. 
When they went on shore they were entertained 
with extraordinary civility; and once in particular 
by the king's brother's wife, at a little village in 
Eoenocke. She appeared to be a very modest wo- 
man, and wore a mantle of deer-skin lined with fur, 
with an apron of the same kind. She had a band 
of white coral on her forehead, and from her ears 
hung long bracelets of pearls, some of which were 
as large as peas. They were told also of a great 
city where the king resided, at the distance of six 
days' journey on the continent — this, however, they 
did aot see ; for they made no long stay, nor did they 



WESTEKN WORLD. 217 

proceed any farther on discovery. They went only 
to the neighbouring parts in their boats, and, being 
satisfied with what they had seen, they returned to 
England about the middle of September, pleased 
with their success in this short and prosperous 
voyage, and with the agreeable hope of the advan- 
tage that might be derived from it. 

On their return, they represented the country as 
so delightful, and so richly abounding with all the 
necessaries of life, the climate and air so temperate 
and healthy, the woods and soil so charming and 
fertile, and every thing else so agreeable, that para- 
dise itself seemed to be- there in its utmost beauty. 
They gave particular accounts of the variety of 
excellent fruits they had found) some of which they 
had never seen before ; that there were grapes 
in great abundance, stately oaks and other timber, 
red cedar, cypress, pines, and other evergreens ; and 
sweet woods, which for height exceeded all they 
had ever heard described ; wild-fowlj deer, fish, and 
other game, in such abundance and variety that 
no epicure could desire more than this new world 
seemed naturally to aflFord. To make it yet more 
desirable, they reported that the native Indians, 
who were then the only inhabitants, were so affable, 
kind, and good-natured, so innocent, and unac- 
quainted with the arts of deceit, and so fond of the 
English, that they seemed ready to take any im- 
pression rather than to oppose their settling on 
the coast. 

Queen Elizabeth, who was highlypleased with the 
representation given of this discovery^ not only 



218 DISCO VEKIES IN THE 

promised to grant all the assistance necessary for 
promoting and perfecting a settlement, but be- 
stowed upon this delightful country the name of 
Virginia;* and it was not long before Sir Walter 
Ealeigh resolved to fit out a more considerable 
fleet than had hitherto been employed in such un- 
dertakings. He was desirous of commanding this 
expedition in person; but, being fearful that his 
absence might be prejudicial to his interest at court, 
he committed the conduct of it to his lieutenant, 
Sir Eichard Greenville, who, on the 8th of ApriJ, 
1585, set sail from Plymouth with seven ships 
fitted out by a company,t of which himself and 
several gentlemen were members. 

On the 26th of' June Sir -Eichard anchored at 
Wokoken, and in August following began to form 
settlements on the island of Eoenocke, five miles 
distant from the continent, where one hundred and 
eighty men were landed under the command of 
Ealph Lane, who was made their governor, and 
Captain Philip Amadas, who was constituted admi- 
ral of the new colony, though it does not appear 
that he had so much as a single bark left with him. 

Sir Eichard did not remain above three weeks 

* This Virginia ought not to be confounded with the province 
now called by that name ; for in those days it comprehended 
not only that province, but the whole country claimed by the 
crown of England from the southern limits of Georgia, agreeable 
to the patents granted to Sir Humphry Gilbert and his brother, 
Sir Walter Raleigh. 

f This company was the first of the kind established in Europe. 
It was afterwards incorporated by King James I., by the name 
of the Governor and Company of the West Indies, but it was 
dissolved by King Charles I. for mal-administration. 



WESTERN WORLD. 219 

longer in these seas ; for having made some dis- 
coveries to the southward, and having traded with 
the Indians for pearls, skins, furs, and other com- 
modities, he sailed on the 25th of August for 
England. On his way home he took a very rich 
prize ; so that this voyage appeared to the nation 
no less prosperous than the former, and the new 
Virginia company began to entertain very san- 
guine hopes of their undertaking. 

We must now return to the early planters in 
Virginia, and give an account of what happened 
to the first colony the English established there, 
or indeed in any part of America. Sir Eichard 
Greenville had no sooner sailed, than the people 
whom he left behind applied themselves with dili- 
gence to what had been recommended to them by Sir 
Walter Raleigh, which w^as the discovering of the 
continent ; and with this view they travelled eighty 
miles south, and one hundred and thirty north, 
from that part of the mainland which was opposite 
to their island. But in these expeditions, having 
ventured indiscreetly too high up the river, and too 
far into the country, the Indian governors grew 
jealous of them. They began first to be w^eary of 
their company, and then to cut off such of their 
stragglers as fell into their hands, and they even 
formed a plan for destroying all the rest, but in this 
they were happily prevented. 

Meanwhile, the company in England were not 
so careful as they ought to have been in sending 
out supplies of provisions; and the English, not 
understanding the nature of the climate, neglected 



220 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

to gather food in the proper season, by which 
means they were reduced to great straits. The 
natives never after kept faith with them, but, 
watching all opportunities to cut them off, obliged 
them to be very cautious in landing on the con- 
tinent, and prevented them having any suppKes ; 
they, however, endured every thing with incredible 
resolution, and extended their discoveries nearly one 
hundred miles along the coast. The Indians for a 
time they kept in awe, by threatening them with the 
return of their companions with a reinforcement of 
men ; but no ships having come from England all 
that winter, nor in the spring following, nor even 
in summer, they despaired of being able to support 
themselves any longer ; while the natives, seeing 
them in a manner abandoned by their countrymen, 
began to look upon them with contempt. Indeed, 
the English expected ev^ry day to fall a sacrifice to 
their cruelty. 

In this distress, their chief employment was 
looking out to sea, in the hope of finding some 
means of escape, or of obtaining recruits. In 
August, when they were almost exhausted by want, 
watching, and hunger, to their great joy they 
discovered Sir Francis Dmke's fleet returning from 
an expedition against the Spaniards in North 
America ; and this great man, having been com- 
manded by the queen to visit this plantation, 
and to see what encouragement or assistance they 
wanted, sailed up directly to the island. Their 
first petition was, that he would grant them a 
supply of men and provisions, with a small ship 



WESTERN WORLD. 221 

or barkj that, in case they should not be able to 
maintain themselves where they were, they might 
sail in it for England. 

Sir Francis complied with their request ; all 
hands were set to work to fit the ship he had 
given them, and to furnish her with stores suflScient 
for a long stay ; but a storm arising, drove the 
vessel from her anchor to sea, and damaged her so 
much that she became unfit for use. At this 
they were so discouraged, that, though Sir Francis 
offered them another ship, they were afraid to stay, 
and earnestly intreated him to take them with 
him, which he did ; and t;hus put an end to the 
first settlement. 

This misfortune was so far from being caused by 
Sir Walter Ealeigh's negligence, that he had con- 
tinually pressed the company to reflect on the 
necessity of supporting the coloDy in time; and so 
solicitous was he to carry this point, that finding 
the fleet, which was preparing under the command 
of Sir Eichard Greenville, went on but slowly, he 
proposed that the first ship that was completely 
manned and equipped should be sent, without 
staying for the rest, which was done: but when 
this vessel, which was well stocked with provisions, 
ammunition, and all manner of necessaries, arrived 
at the island of Eoenocke, it was found to be 
deserted, and after a short stay the people returned 
home. 

In about a fortnight after came Sir Eichard 
Greenville with his squadron of three small vessels, 
and, to his great disappointment, found not a man 



222 DISCOYEETES m THE 

in the island. He, however, resolved to make 
another settlement, and with this view left behind 
him fifty men, with directions to build a fort for 
their own defence ; and then, having furnished them 
with all necessaries for two years, he returned to 
England, after giving them the strongest assu- 
rances that they should be kept constantly and 
regularly supplied. 

This colony was, however, even more unfortu- 
nate than the first ; for the Indians, taking advan- 
tage of the smallness of their number, and the 
difficulties they had to struggle with, attacked and 
cut them off; so that, when Mr. White came thither 
with three ships and considerable supplies, on the 
22nd of June, 1587, he found their fort demolished, 
some huts they had erected near it destroyed, and 
not far from it the bones of a dead man. In all 
these revolutions, Manteo, an Indian who had been 
formerly carried over to England, remained firm 
to the English interest, and from him Mr. White 
learned what was become of the colony. 

The misfortunes which had attended these two 
settlements would certainly have discouraged a 
man of less constancy and fortitude than White ; 
but he had a commission to be governor, and Sir 
Walter had strongly recommended his keeping 
possession of the place. He therefore erected a 
new fort, and, choosing eleven of the most sensible 
persons he had brought with him, constituted a 
regular corporation, to which he gave the title of 
the governor and court of assistants of the city of 
Ealeigh, in Virginia. On the 13th of August^ 



^TESTEEN WOELD. 223 

Manteo^ tlie faithful Indian^ was cliristened, and 
created by the governor Lord of Dassumonpeak, 
an Indian nation so called, as a reward for his 
fidelity and service to the English ; and on the 18th 
of the same month was born the first child that 
was the issue of Christian parents in that place. 
She was the daughter of Annias Dare, and, after 
the name of her country, was named Virginia. 

Good government and industry soon rendered 
White and his men formidable to the Indians, 
who courted their friendship, and made leagues 
with the corporation, which they kept or broke as 
they thought themselves too weak or too strong 
for the English, who, notwithstanding their seem- 
ing prosperity, underwent the utmost hardships 
for want of receiving proper supplies from Europe. 
Yet so far were they from repenting of their under- 
taking, or desiring to return, that they disputed 
for the liberty of remaining at Eoenocke, and 
obliged Mr. White, their governor, to return to 
England, and solicit the company to send them 
recruits of men and provisions. 

White consented to negotiate this affair, and, 
leaving one hundred and fifty men in the place, 
set sail for England, where he arrived in safety ; 
but it was two years before he could obtain a grant 
of the necessary supplies. At last, however, he 
had three ships fitted out for him, with provisions 
and more men for the colony. On the 15th of 
August he arrived at Cape Hattaras, and, landing 
on the island Eoenocke, found, by letters cut on 
trees in large Eoman characters, that the English 



224 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

had removed. On several of these trees they 
found the letters 0. E. 0. ; and searching farther, 
on one of the palisadoes of the fort they found cut, 
in large capital letters, the word Croatan, vi^hich is 
an island about twenty leagues to the south of 
Eoenocke. On discovering this they embarked in 
order to search for the garrison in that island ; but 
they were scarce all on board before a dreadful 
storm arose, which separated the ships, and, as 
they lost their anchors and cables, they durst not 
venture in to the shore. Upon which all of them, 
shifting for themselves, sailed back to England 
and Ireland. 

This dreadful blow proved the ruin of the third 
settlement. It does not appear that the company 
took any further care, or made any fresh attempt, 
for preserving the possession of a country, the 
advantages whereof had been painted in such 
strong colours to the crown of England : though 
a long time after, as will be related further on, they 
sent several ships to visit the coast, and trade with 
the natives. 

While these proceedings were going on in the 
south, a design of attempting to discover a north- 
west passage was formed by some traders in the 
west of England ; and the same project being set 
on foot in London, they both united, when Captain 
John Davis was appointed to conduct the enter- 
prise, and to have under his command the Sunshine 
of London, a bark of fifty tons, with twenty- 
three persons on board, and the Moonshine of 
Dartmouth, a vessel of thirty -five tons, carrying 




CAPTAIN DAVIS AMONG THE ICEBEEGS. 



Tage 325. 



WESTEEN WORLD. 225 

nineteen persons. With this small force Davis 
sailed from the last-mentioned port on the 7th of 
June, 1585, and on the 14th of the same month 
was forced into one of the Scilly islands, where, 
being detained a fortnight, he gave a proof of his 
activity and industry by drawing a chart of those 
islands, which was at that time much wanted. 

Captain Davis with his two vessels sailed thence 
on the 28th, and continued his course to the north- 
west, till on the 19 th of July they came into a whirl- 
ing tide, which set northwards; and, sailing about 
half a league into a very calm sea, they heard a 
prodigious roaring, as from the beach of some shore, 
which was the more terrible as the weather was so 
foggy that they could not see from one ship to the 
other, though they were but a small distance 
apart. Upon this the Moonshine was ordered to 
sound ; but not being able to find ground with a 
line of upwards of three hundred fathoms, the 
captain, the master, and Mr. Jane, who wrote the 
account, went towards the sound to see what it 
was, when they found it to be several islands of ice 
broke loose and floating in the sea ; they got out 
upon these, and, when they returned to their boat, 
carried several large pieces of ice with them, which 
melted into very good fresh water. 

On the 20th, the fog dispersing, they discovered 
the land, which resembled a sugar-loaf, and made 
so uncomfortable, or rather so horrid an appearance, 
that Captain Davis called it the Land of Desola- 
tion. On the 21st they were forced to bend their 

Q 



226 DISCOVERIES IN TKE 

course to the south to clear themselves of the ice, 
after which they ran along the shore. 

On the 24th, the captain, to encourage the 
men, caused their allowance to be increased ; the 
weather was far from being very cold, for though 
it was pretty sharp when the wind blew from the 
shore, it was very hot when it blew from the sea. 
On the 25th they bore away north-west, and con- 
tinued their coui'se for four days ; and on the 29th 
discovered land in the latitude of 64^ 15', with the 
sea quite free from ice, and the weather veiy 
teniperate. 

Upon viewing the coast, they found many plea- 
sant bays and commodious ports : they, however^ 
judged it to be not a continued land, but rather an 
archipelago, and therefore resolved to go on shore 
on one of the small islands, in order to search for 
wood and water, and to gain a better knowledge 
of the country. But they had no sooner landed 
than they found evident marks of the country 
being inhabited ; for there lay upon the ground a 
small shoe, several pieces of leather sewed with 
sinews, and a piece of fur, like beaver. 

They went next upon another island, where, 
getting upon a high rock^ they were seen by the 
people of the country, who instantly set up a most 
hideous howling, upon which the English hallooed 
out to their companions, to let them know what 
had happened. Captain Bruton of the Moonshine 
came to their assistance with a good number of 
his seamen ; and, soon after their arrival, ten canoes 
full of natives came from a neighbouring island, 



WESTERN WORLD. 227 

two of which advanced so near the shore, that the 
English on land could easily talk with them. The 
language of these people, and their pronunciation, 
were harsh and unpleasant. One of them, however, 
seemed inclined to come on shore, bnt first pointed 
to the sun, and then struck his breast so hard that 
they could hear the blow ;- upon which Mr. John 
Elias, master of the Moonshine, was appointed to 
treat with him, and, going to the seaside, he pointed 
to the sun and struck his breast, as the savage 
had done. At length he ventured on shore, 
when they threw him caps,, stockings, gloves, and 
such other things as they thought would please 
him ; but tlie night drawing ony^ both parties took 
their leave. 

The next morning thirty-seven canoes, rowing 
by the ships, called to the English to go on shore ; 
but the latter being in no great haste, one of the 
Indians leaped upon land and ran to the top of a 
rock, where, to show his joy, he danced and beat a 
drum. The English then manned their boats and. 
went to them to the water-side, where they waited 
in their canoes ; and, after the formal ceremony or 
swearing by the sun, the natives made no scruple 
of trusting them, but, on the contrary, showed all 
possible signs of kindness, and even of politeness ; 
for, when Mr. Jane offered to shake hands with one 
of them, the Indian first took his band and kissed 
it. They readily parted with any thing they were 
asked for, and were content with whatever was 
given them, showing no signs of greediness, and 
not the- least appearance of treaoherj. The Eng- 



228 BISCOYEEIES IN THE 

lish bought five of their canoes, and several of their 
•lockings and gowns, some of which wei'e made of 
seal and others of birds' skins, all of them well 
dressed and neatly made, so that it plainly appear- 
ed they had some trades among them. They had 
plenty of furs, and, on seeing that they pleased the 
English, informed them by signs that they would 
go up into the country and bring them more ; but 
the wind proving fair in the night. Captain Davis 
steered still farther to the north-west, and on the 
6th of August entered a very :fine road free from 
ice, in latitude 66° 40', where they landed under 
a high mountain, the clefts of which shone like 
gold. 

Mr. Davis, having taken a view of every thing 
round him, began to think of bestowing names on 
the places he had discovered ; he gave to the 
mountain the name of Mount Ealeigh; the road 
where the ship lay he called Totness road ; the 
sound at the foot of the mountain, Exeter sound ; 
the north foreland. Dyer's cape; and the south 
foreland, Walsingham. They here discovered four 
w^iite bears of a prodigious size, two of which they 
killed and brought on board; the fore-paw of one 
of them measured fourteen inches. They saw a 
raven upon Mount Ealeigh, and at the bottom of 
the hill found some shrubs, and flowers like prim- 
roses ; the coast, however, was very mountainous, 
and entirely barren, affording neither wood nor 
grass, not even earth ; for the mountains were all of 
stone, and that the finest the author of this account 
had ever seen. The inland part of the country 



WESTERN WORLD. 229 

was probably fertile, since the bears were very 
fat ; and it appeared, upon^ opening their sto- 
machs, that they were not carnivorous, but fed 
upon grass. 

On the 8th they weighed from Mount Ealeigh, 
and three days after came to the most southerly 
point of the land, which they called the Cape of 
God's Mercy. Here they were surprised by a 
very thick fog, upon the breaking up of which 
they found themselves in a strait, that was in 
some places sixty miles broad, and in others ninety ; 
the weather was very fine and temperate, and the 
water of the same colour as that of the ocean j 
which filled them with hope of finding a passage. 
They sailed sixty leagues through this strait, 
and then discovered several islands in the midst of 
it, by which they sailed, one bark taking the north 
and the other the south side; but the wind chang- 
ing, and the weather growing foggy and foul, they 
were forced to lie by for five days in this passage, 
since called Davis' Straits. 

On the 14th they went on shore, and saw 
evident marks of the country's being inhabited ; for 
they found part of a stone wall and a human 
skull. The next day they heard a great howling 
on shore, which they supposed to be made by 
wolves, and landed in order to kill them; but 
instead of wolves they found only dogs, that came 
running to the boat, wagging their tails, and 
showing other signs of joy, as is usual with those 
animals at the sight of men ; there were twenty of 
them in all, and being of the size of mastiffs, with 



230 DISCOVERIES IN THi: 

sliort ears and lonor bushy tails, the seainen were 
afraid of them, and firing, killed two, one of which 
had a leather collar ; they also found two sledges, 
one made of several boards and the other of whale- 
bone. They likewise saw larks, ravens, and 
partridges. 

On the 17th they went on shore again, and in 
a place resembling an oven, which was built with 
stones, they found a small canoe, an image, a bird 
made of bone, beads for necklaces, and other trifles. 
The coast bore no very ]3romising appearance, 
having neither wood nor grass; but the rocks were 
of a fine bright stone like marble, beautifully marked 
with veins of different colours. 

Captain Davis v/as extremely pleased with the 
appearance of tliis strait, which they took to be 
the very channel into the South Seas in search 
of which they came. It was therefore resolved to 
continue the prosecution of their discoveries; but 
the wind changing, they were obliged to remain 
at anchor, and the weather growing very foul, on 
the 24th they hoisted sail for England. On the 
10th of September they fell in with the Land of 
Desolation ; on the 27th they had sight of the 
English coast, and in a storm at night were parted 
from the Moonshine. However, on the 30th, Cap- 
tain Davis returned to Dartmouth, where he found 
the Moonshine, which had arrived in that harbour 
two hours before. 

Captain Davis's owners were so well satisfied 
with his conduct in this voyage, that they pro- 
cured him an audience of Secretary Walsingham,, 



^TESTERX WOELB. 231 

^lio not only greatly approved of the enterprise, 
and of the manner in which it was conducted, but 
recomroended his completing the discovery ; to this 
he w^as also pressed by those concerned in the under- 
taking, and by some merchants of Exeter, who 
desired to join in the expenses necessary for a second 
expedition, and, as he willingly consented, the 
following squadron was fitted out : the Mermaid 
of 120 tons ; the Sunshine of 60 tons ; the Moon- 
shine of 35 tons; and the North Star, a pinnace 
of 13 tons. 

With this squadron Captain Davis set sail 
from Dartmouth on the 7th of May, 1586 ; and, 
having coasted the south side of Ireland, steered 
to the north-west till he came into latitude 60^, 
when he divided the squadron, and ordered the 
Sunshine and the North Star to seek a passage 
northward, between Greenland and Iceland, to 
latitude 80'^ if not hindered by land. He left 
them on the 7th of June, and on the 15th dis- 
covered land in 60^ latitude, and iu 47^ w€st 
longitude from the meridian of London.; the ice 
lying in some places ten, in others twenty, and in 
some fifty leagues off the shore, which obliged him 
to bear into 57^, in order to get a free sea. 

On the 29th, after many storms, he again dis- 
covered land in latitude 64^, and longitude 58^30', 
T^'hen, bearing in upon it, he set up a pinnace he had 
provided in the Mermaid to serve as a scout in the 
discovery. The ships being within the sound, he 
set his boats to search for shoal water, where he 
might come to anchor^ which in this place is 



232 DISCOVEETES IX THE 

very hard to find. The people of the countrjr 
seeing the English^ came in their canoes with 
shouts and cries; but when they observed in the 
boats some of those who were there last year, they 
rowed up to them, and taking hold of the oars, and 
hanging about the boat, expressed great joy, 
making signs that they knew them again. Captain 
Davis then went on shore with others of the com- 
pany, taking twenty knives with him ; and they had 
no sooner landed than the friendly natives, leaping 
out of their canoes, ran to them, and embraced 
them with many signs of a hearty welcome. 
There were eighteen of them, and Mr. Davis giv- 
ing each of them a knife, they offered him skins in 
return ; but he dismissed them, making signs thcit 
the knives were not sold, but freely given. 

The next day the pinnace was landed upon aa 
island in order to be finished ; and, while it was 
being put together, the people came continually to 
them, there being sometimes 100 canoes at a time, 
bringing seal-skins, stag-skins, white hares, salmon- 
peal, small cod, dry capelin, with other fish, and 
some birds. Captain Davis then sent one of the 
boats to search one part of the land, while he went 
to another, but first he gave strict orders that no 
injury should be offered to any of the natives, nor 
any gun fired. 

The m-en whom the captain despatched in the 
boat, passed ten miles within the snowy mountains, 
and came to an open country covered with earth 
and grass, like our moors and waste grounds in 
England. They went ten leagues up a river^ which 



T7ESTEEN WORLD. 233 

in the narrowest place was two leagues over, but 
tbey knew not liow far it extended. 

Meanwhile the captain took what he supposed 
another river, which, though it at first showed a 
large inlet, proved to be only a deep bay, the end 
of which he reached in four hours ; when, leaving 
the boat well manned, he went with the rest of 
the company three or four miles into the country, 
but found nothing except a few snipes, ravens, 
and small birds, such as larks and linnets. 

On the 3rd of July, Captain Davis manned his 
boat, and, attended by fifty canoes, entered another 
sound, to which the people invited him by signs, 
and he consented in the hope of finding their place 
of residence. At last they made signs that he should 
go into a warm place to sleep ; upon this he went 
on shore, and desired them to leap with the Eng- 
lish, to which they consented, but the English had 
tlie advantage. They afterwards went to wrest- 
ling, when they were found to be strong and active, 
and to have such skill in this exercise that they 
threw some of the English who were good wrestlers. 
On the 4th the master of the Mermaid went on 
some of the islands in order to take in wood, and 
found a grave wherein several persons had been 
buried, covered only with seal- skins, and a cross 
laid over them. 

These natives were of good stature, and well- 
proportioned. They had broad faces, small eyes, 
wide mouths, and large lips ; but their hands and 
feet were small and slender. They were very sub- 
ject to bleeding at the nose, and therefore stopped 



234 DISCOVEBIES IN THE 

their noses with deers' hair. One of them kindled 
a fire after the following curious manner ; he took 
fi piece of board in which was a hole half through, 
and having smeared the end of a round stick with 
train oil, put it into th^ hole, when turning it 
round with a piece of leather, something after the 
manner of our turners, by the violence of the motion 
soon produced fire, upon which he laid a heap of 
turfs, and then, with many words and strange 
gestures, put several things into the flames, which 
the English supposed to be intended as n sacrifice. 
They then desired the captain to go into the' smoke, 
which he told them to do, and, as they refused, he 
thrust one of them into it, and then commanded 
his men to tread out the fire, and brush it into the 
sea, to show his contempt for this sorcery. 

They used to eat their meat raw, and lived mostly 
upon fish, which they caught with nets made of 
whale fins. 

But though these people behaved with great 
simplicity, they appeared extremely addicted to 
thieving, particularly iron, for which they had a 
very great esteem ; for they cut away the Moon- 
shine's boat from her stern, and also the cables and 
cloth which were placed to air; they stole the oars, 
a caliver, a spear, a sword, and several other things, 
which so exasperated the sailors that they desired 
the captain to dissolve this new friendship, upon 
which he ordered a caliver to be shot among them, 
and immediately after a' falcon, when they were so 
frightened at the noise that they instantly fled. 
However, about ten hours after, they returned, 



WESTERN WORLDo LoO 

making signs of peace, and this being granted, they 
brought seal-skins and salmon-peal; but on seeing 
iron thej could not forbear stealing again. The 
captain commanded that they should not be treated 
with severity, but that his own people should be 
more careful in keeping what was under their 
charge. 

On the 17th of July, Captain Davis went on 
shore in his new pinnace, and with many of his 
company walked to the top of a high mountain^ 
with the hope of taking a view of the country: 
but the number and height of the mountains 
bounded their prospect in such a manner, that 
they could see but a small distance; they therefore 
returned to their pinnace, where they observed a 
water-spout, which at that time was considered a 
very strange and astonishing sight. 

On the 19th they returned to their ships, ^vhen 
the sailors complained heavily of the people, who 
had not only stolen an anchor, and cut one of the 
cables, but had thrown stones at them. However^ 
the next day the captain went on shore, and as he 
treated the natives with much kindness^ which 
removed their apprehensions, they, at his return, 
followed him in their canoes. He then gave thera 
some bracelets, and seven or eight of them who 
came on board were treated kindly, and afterwards 
suffered to depart ; and yet the sun had no sooner 
set, than, taking their slings, they threw stones into 
the Sunshine, and knocked down the boatswain. 
Upon this the English pursued them in their 
boats, and even fired upon them ; but they i owed 



236 DISCOVREIES IN THE 

so swiftly that it was impossible to overtake them. 
A few days after, five of them came to make a new 
truce ; among them was the ringleader of these dis- 
turbances, who came crying ^'Iliaout/' and, strik- 
ing his breast, offered a pair of gloves to sell, upon 
which a knife was offered for them, when, two 
of them coming up, the English dismissed one 
cf them and ke23t the other prisoner. They then 
pointed to him and his fellows for their anchor, 
and made signs to them that when they had got it 
he should be set at liberty; but, about an hour after, 
tlie wind coming fair, they set sail and took him 
away with them. One of his companions followed 
the ship in his canoe, talked with him. and seemed 
to lament his condition ; but the English used 
him w^ell, and saying, "Iliaout," that is, '* We mea_i 
no harm," in a short time he became a cheerful 
companion. Captain Davis gave him a new suit 
of frieze of the English fashion, with which he 
seemed highly pleased. He soon trimmed up his 
darts and all his fishing-tools, was very ready at 
making oakum, and w^illingly set his hand to the 
rope. 

On the 17th, being in the latitude of GS"* 8', the 
men imagined they saw a very high land, which 
had several bays and capes, and sent out the pin- 
nace to discover it ; but, on her return, they were 
assured that it was no more than a prodigious 
mass of ice. They coasted till the 30th, when the 
air grew so foggy, and the sea so pestered with 
ice, that all hope of proceeding was banished. 

In this extremity, the men beginning to grow 



WESTERN WORLD. 237 

sick and feeble, and to lose all hope of success, 
earnestly intreated the captain to preserve his own 
and their lives by returning to England: but, 
though he commiserated their condition, he resolved 
to prosecute his discovery. He altered his course, 
and on the 1st of August discovered land, without 
either snow or ice, in latitude 66^^ 33', and in 70' 
longitude from London. 

On the 2nd August they anchored in a very good 
road, where they graved and re-victualled the 
Moonshine. They here found it very hot, and were 
much troubled with mosquitoes. The people of the 
country having caught a seal, tied bladders to him, 
and sent him to the English with the flood, so 
that he came right up with the ship; this the 
captain took as a friendly present. On the 5th, 
Captain Davis walked up to the top of a hill, and, 
observing three canoes under a rock, went to them, 
and found in them skins, darts, &c. ; but, without 
taking any thing, he left in every boat a silk point, 
a leaden bullet, and a pin. 

The next day the natives came to them without 
fear, and bartered wath them for skins. Mean- 
while the Indian kept close, and by signs let them 
know that he was very desirous of having a com- 
panion. 

On the 12th, Captain Davis departed, leaving 
the Mermaid at anchor, whose crew, finding many 
matters of discontent, were unwilling to proceed. 
Two days after, sailing west fifty leagues, they 
discovered land in 66° 19', and the next day stood 
tn the south. On the 18th, they discovered a 



233 BISCOYERTES IN THE 

promontory to the north-west, and, having no land 
on the south, were in great hope of a passage. They 
then coasted an island towards the south from 67'' to 
ST"", and on the 28th5 distrusting the weather, sailed 
ten leagues into a fine harbour, two leagues broad, 
with woods on both sides. Here they continued 
till the 1st of September, in which time they had 
two very great storms. The captain and some 
few w^ith him went six miles into the country, and 
found the woods consisted of firs, pines, elders,. 
yews, and birch trees. In this excursion they saw 
a black bear, and plenty of birds, pheasants and 
partridges, wild geese, blackbirds, jays, thrushes. 
and other small birds. 

They now coasted the shore with fair weather, 
and on the south anchored in a good road among 
many islands. Eight leagues to the north of this 
place, they had hopes of a passage from observing 
a prodigious sea rolling between the two lands 
from the west, which they had a great desire to 
enter ; but the wind was directly against them. 

On the 6th they sent five young men on shore 
to anotlier island to fetch some fish, which they 
had left there covered up all night. But the 
natives, who had concealed themselves in the woods, 
suddenly assaulted the men, which, being perceived 
from the ship, those on board let slip their cable, 
bore in to the shore, and twice discharged a double 
musket upon them. At this noise they fled, after 
having killed two of the men with their arrows, and 
wounded two more ; the other narrowly escaped by 
swimming with an arrow shot through his arm. 



WESTERN WORLD. 239 

That night a most dreadful storm arose, which 
lasted till the 10th ; they unrigged their ship, and 
intended to cut down the masts^ and, as the cable 
of their sheet-anchor broke, they expected to have 
been driven on shore, and murdered by the natives ; 
but, having afterwards a fair sea, they recovered 
their anchor and new-moored their ship, when, 
as two strands of their cable were broken, they 
were fully sensible of their great deliverance. 

On the 11th, the wind coming fair at west-north- 
west, they steered directly for England, where 
they arrived in the beginning of October. Tno 
Sunshine had returned a few days before them. 
She had been at Iceland, and from thence to 
Greenland, afterwards to Estoitland, and thence 
to the Land of Desolation, where she traded watli 
the people, and stayed in the country twenty 
days. But they had lost the pinnace called the 
North Star in a, storm^ and they never heard of 
her more. 

Captain Davis was afterwards sent on another 
voyage of discovery with three ships, two of which 
were to be employed in fishing, while the other 
endeavoured to find out a passage to the South 
Seas ; and in this voyage he reached latitude 
IS"" north, where he found the sea all open^ and 
the strait forty leagues broad, whence he concluded 
that the passage was most certain, and the execu- 
tion easy, but in this he was mistaken. However, 
these expeditions entitled England to the most 
northern coast of America. 

We shall now mention an attempt made for 



240 DISCOYEEIES IN THE 

fixing a settlement farther to the south than any 
we had vet obtained. 

Sir Walter Ealeigh had seen wLtb regret the 
plantation of Virginia abandoned, and, as he weli 
knew tliat the want of immediate profit was the 
cause, he resolved to strike out the means of 
settling a new colony in another part of America, 
that should be free from this inconvenience, and 
transfer the richest products of that country to the 
English, if they had but courage enough to fetch 
tliem. For this purpose he inquired with the 
greatest diligence into the state of Guiana. He 
sought from books and papers all the assistance 
that could be had ; and gained from personal infor- 
mation, which was more in his power than perhaps 
in any other man's, all the experience it was capable 
of giving, but he drew the greatest light from his 
own profound knowledge and extensive research. 

In order to proceed cautiously in an affair of 
such importance, he sent before him one Captain 
Whiddon to take a view of the coast, that he 
might be perfectly informed as to the state of 
things there, and become better able to take the 
proper measures for overcoming those difficulties 
which a man of less sagacity would have deemed 
insuperable. Captain Whiddon performed his 
business efiectually, though he met with some ob- 
structions from the force, and much greater incon- 
venience from the frauds of the Spaniards, who 
were at that time endeavouring to secure to them- 
selves this valuable country, particularly Don 
Antonio de Berreo, with whom he had son: 3 



WESTERN WORLD. 241 

dealings, who got eight of his men into his hands 
and used them with great barbarity. 

Wlien Sir Walter's project was ripe for execu- 
tion, he was assisted by the Lord Admiral Howaixl 
and Sir Eobert Cecil ; and five ships were fitted 
out for the expedition. Sir Walter, however, left 
Plymouth on the 6th of February, 1595, with only 
one bark besides the vessel in which he himself 
sailed; and on the 22nd of March arrived at the 
island of Trinidad, where he spent a considerable 
time in viewing that island, in examining all its 
ports and havens, and even every little creek, with 
the greatest care and exactness. 

Here was a Spanish settlement, and a new city 
called St. Joseph, governed by Don Antonio de 
Berreo, a man of courage and resolution, but very 
unfit to prosecute discoveries. On this governor 
Sir Walter resolved to be revenged for his treat- 
ment of Captain Whiddon's people, by making 
himself master of the place, which he knew would 
gain him the friendship and secure the obedience 
of the Indians, who were most cruelly oppressed 
by the Spaniards. 

Accordingly he sent Captain Calfield to attack 
the main guard with sixty men, and, following 
with forty more, reduced the town of St. Joseph 
without much trouble. He then set the inhabi- 
tants at liberty, and in particular many Indian 
captives, among whom were five caciques, w4io 
were linked together in one chain, and confined in 
a place where they were almost starved with 
hunger. These unhappy princes had sufi'ered the 

u 



242 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

severest torments ; they had been basted w^th 
the scalding fat of baccn, and endured a variety of 
other cruelties. Ealeigh kept the governor and 
his Spaniards prisoners, and afterwards, at the i^e- 
quest of the Indians, burnt the place ; but in other 
respects behaved towards them, aud particularly 
to\vards the governor, with such consideration, 
that he drew from him a faithful account of 
all his adventures in attempting the conquest of 
Guiana. 

The same day there came to Sir Walter's assis- 
tance Captain Giflfard in the Lion's Whelp, and 
Captain Keymis in a galego, with several gentle- 
men and soldiers, and some useful supplies. But, 
before Sir Walter w^ould proceed on his discoveries, 
he summoned an assembly of the Indian chiefs of 
the island who were enemies to the Spaniards, and 
told them, by an Indian interpreter whom he had 
brought out of England,, that he was the servant 
of a virgin queen, who was the most powerful 
cacique in the north, and had more caciques under 
her command than there w^ere trees in that island. 
That she was an enemy to the Castilians on ac- 
count of their tyranny and oppression ; and, having 
freed all the coasts of the northern world from 
their servitude, had sent him to free them also, 
and to defend the country of Guiana from their 
invasions in future. He then showed them the 
queen's picture, which they greatly admired. By 
these and other speeches of the same kind, both 
here and on the borders of Guiana, he made the 
people familiarly acquainted with the name and 



IVESTERN WORLD, 243 

virtaes of ElfzabetTi the queen of Englami, and at 
the same time strongly engaged them in his own 
interest. 

Sir Walter now prepared to proceed towards 
Guiana, though Berreo used many arguments to 
dissuade him from engaging in that enterprise. 
He told him that he must pass many dangerous 
shallows in small boats, without being able to 
carry provisions sufficient to last him half the way ; 
that he must not expect the least assistance from 
the natives of the countries through which he 
passed, who would not admit of a parley, but 
would burn their towns, and retire to their for- 
tresses ; that they had been CDJoined by their chiefs 
not to barter gold, nor to hold any communication 
with Christians, as the only means to preserve 
themselves from destruction;, besides, that the 
way was long^ winter was approachiDg, and the 
rivers beginniag to swell. 

Notwithstanding these remonstrances. Sir Walter 
directed his vice-admirals,^ Captain Giflfard and 
Captain Calfield, to steer into the mouth of the river 
Capuri, and at the highest flood to pass over the 
shoal; but this they found impracticable, the 
water falling before they could accomplish it. He 
then sent the master of the Lion's Whelp to try 
another branch called Amana, in order to ascertain 
if either of the small vessels could enter : but he 
met with no better success. Sir Walter now caused 
his carpenter to cut down an old galego boat, and 
to fit her with banks for oars, in such a manner as 
to draw but five feet of water. 



244 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

In this vessel he embarked with sixty of his 
people, and was followed by the shallop and boat 
of the Lion s Whelp, carrying twenty ; Captain 
Calfield's shallop, carrying ten ; and a barge of hio 
own, ten raore ; having in all one hundred men 
well armed, with provisions for a month. Their 
accommodations were extremely bad, for they were 
exposed to the weather, and obliged to endare the 
burning heat of the sun and storms of rain, to lie 
upon the hard boards, and to bear the disagreeable 
smell of the wet clothes of many people crowded 
together and the dressing of their food, which 
mostly consisted of stale fish, so that no prison 
could be more loathsome and unhealthy. 

At first setting out they had twenty miles of 
high sea to cross in their crazy boats, and were 
driven by the wind into the bottom of the bay of 
Gtiuanipa, inhabited by barbarians who used 
poisoned arrows. Thence they -entered one of the 
rivers, and after four days got above the force of 
the tide ; but they were there bewildered by such 
a confluence of streams, and so whirled about by 
different currents, that after toiling a long time they 
were brought back to the place from -which they 
had set out. They passed between islands and 
straits so overshadowed with trees, that their sight 
was bounded by the breadth of the river and the 
length of the avenue; while the gloominess of the 
prospect added horror to the loathsomeness of the 
places in which they were confined. 

At length, on the 22nd of May, they entered a 
river, and, not knowing any other name for it; called 



WESTERN WORLD. 245 

it tlie Eed Cross Eiver : here they put into a creek 
which led to a town at a small distance, where their 
Indian pilot went on shore, and was set upon by 
liis countrymeUj who hunted him with dogs. In 
return. Sir Walter seized an old man who was 
passing that way, and threatened to cut off his 
head if he did not procure his pilot's liberty ; the 
pilot, however, by his agility soon escaped, and 
swam to Sir Walter's barge. They still kept the 
old man, whom tliey treated with the utmost kind- 
ness, in hope of obtaining much useful information 
from a native who had been long acquainted with 
those parts; and indeed he was of great use in 
guiding them through the intricacies of the river?, 
though he himself was often in the utmost per-- 
plexity which river to take. 

The people \^ho inhabited the country at the 
mouth of this great river, were called Tivitivas, and 
were a bold and hardy race, who knew the value of 
liberty, and had the courage to defend it. Daring 
the summer they lived in houses built on the 
ground ; but in the wet or winter months, in huts 
built upon trees, as at the time was very common 
both on this coast and also in the East Indies, 
where the countries are subject to be overflowed. 

Some time after, Sir Walter's barge ran aground, 
and with such force that they despaired of getting 
her off, so that the voyage of discovery seemed at 
a stand ; however, four days after, they again set 
her afloat, and striking into the Amana, one of 
the noblest branches of the Oronoko, the men with 
incredible fatigue continued their voyage. Tiiey 



246 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

were now within 5° of the line, and Sir Walter en- 
deavoured to keep up their spirits by directing 
his pilots to give them hope that their labours 
would soon have an end. 

At length the old Indian, perceiving that their 
provisions were exhausted, and that they must 
perish without an immediate supply, told them 
that, if they would venture up a river on the right 
hand, he would bring them to a town where they 
might be sure of refreshment, and be able to return 
before night. Sir Walter took him at his word ; 
but he amused them all day and the greater part 
of the night without .showing any town, so that a 
less prudent commander might have punished him 
for imposing on them. However, about one the 
next morning they reached this long-expected 
place, and obtained the supplies of which they stood 
in such need. In this hazardous voyage, which 
was fourscore miles up the river, they observed 
several fishes of a surprising size, and many alli- 
gators, one of which devoured a young negro who 
attended Sir Walter, and who had leaped into the 
water to refresh himself by swimming. 

Soon after, being again in want of provisions, they 
took two canoes laden with excellent bread, be- 
longing to the Indians called Arwaycas, who ran 
them on shore, and took refuge in the woods. As 
Sir Walter was pursuing them, in hope of obtain- 
ing some information, he found, as his men were 
creeping through the bushes, a refiner s basket, in 
which were quicksilver, saltpetre, and other things 



WESTERN WORLD. 247 

used in the refining of metals, together witli some 
gold dust that had been refined from the ore. 

He then landed more of his men, and off'ered 
five hundred pounds to any of his soldiers who 
should take one of the Spaniards, but this they 
were unable to do: they, however, discovered 
the Arwaycas concealed in the woods, who had 
served as pilots to the Spanish adventurers, and 
who informed Sir Walter that they had been ac- 
companied by two other canoes laden with gold 
ore, which had escaped. One of these people he 
kept for his own pilot, and from him learned 
where, when, and how, the Spaniards worked for 
gold. Here, when his companions had refreshed 
themselves, they appeared as well satisfied as their 
commander, and promised to follow him to the 
end of the world. 

On the fifteenth day after leaving their ships. Sir 
Walter and his men entered the great river 
Oronoko, and obtained a true account of the na- 
tions inhabiting its banks ; they then steered by 
the Mountain Aio and a large island, and on the 
fifth day after entering the above river, came to 
anchor at ]\Iorequito, in the province of Aromaia, 
three hundred miles within land. From this place 
he sent a messenger to the king of Aromaia, who, 
the next morning, came on foot from his house, 
and returned the same evening, though he was 
one hundred and ten years of age, and his journey 
was twenty-eight miles. This old monarch had a 
large train of attendants of both sexes, who 



248 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

brought with them plenty of flesh, fish, and several 
sorts of fruits. The old king having refreshed him- 
self awhile in a tent, which Sir Walter had caused 
to be pitched. for him, entered, by means of the 
interpreter, into conversation on the murder of 
Morequito, his predecessor, and the other bar- 
barities of the Spaniards. Sir Walter then told him 
the design of his coming, and expatiated on the 
virtues of his queen, whose greatest ambition, he 
observed, was to relieve distressed nations, and 
humble the pride of the Spaniards. 

The old man listened to him with great atten- 
tion ; and, on his asking him many questions re- 
lating to the strength, polity, alliances, and govern- 
ment of Guiana, with the readiest way of entering 
into the heart of the country, the king replied iti 
so clear and sensible a manner, that Sir Waltei* 
could not help being surprised at finding a person 
of such judgment and good sense, who had re- 
ceived none of the advantages of education. Some 
of the king's attendants made Sir Walter a present 
of a small but curious kind of parroquet^ and of an 
animal then scarcely known, called the armadillo, 
whose head, body, and tail are covered with hard 
and beautiful scales. 

After the king's departure, Sir Walter sailed 
westward to the river Caroli, because it led to the 
strongest nations of all the frontiers, who were 
enemies to the Epuremei, the subjects of the inca 
or emperor of Guiana and Manoa. Long before 
he came to it, he heard the roaring occasioned 
by the falls of this river; but on entering, in 



WESTERN WORLD. 249 

order to proceed forty miles up to the Casiagotos, 
he found the stream so rapid, that, though the 
river was as broad as the Thames at Woolwich, lie 
could not advance with his eight-oared barge 
above a stone's throw in an hour. He therefore 
encamped on the banks, and sent an Indian to ac- 
quaint the lords of Canuri, who dwelt in that 
province, of his arrival. Upon tiiis message one 
of the princes, named Wanuretona, attended by a 
numerous train of followers, came to visit him, 
bringing an abundance of refreshments: from him 
he learned that a nation called the Carol ians 
were enemies both to the Spaniards and the 
Epuremei, and that there were mighty nations at 
the head of that river, who were of the same dis- 
position. 

Upon this intelligence he despatched a party of 
between thirty and forty men up the side of the 
river; while he himself, with a few officers and 
half a dozen men, armed with muskets, marched to 
take a view of the cataracts of the river Caroli. 

From the top of the first hills that commanded 
a view of the river, they beheld a prodigious cata- 
ract, beneath which the water divided into three 
streams, and ran with amazing rapidity upwards of 
twenty miles ; for so far they imagined they were 
able to see. In this course no less than ten or a 
dozen more appeared in view, each as high above 
the other as a church steeple, whence the water 
rushed down with such violence, that the vapours 
arising from the rebound were like the thick 
smoke hanging over well- inhabited cities. On 



250 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

a nearer approach they resembled heavy showers of 
rain, while the procligions roaring of these torrentrj 
equalled at least the noise of thunder. 

Sir Walter Ealeigh observed, that he never saw 
a more beautiful country or more delightful pro- 
spects : the valleys were interspersed Avith hills, and 
the rivers winding through them in various 
branches; the plains, free from brambles, were 
covered with fine grass ; the soil was hard sand ; 
the deer were crossing every path, and towards 
evening the birds sang on every tree a thousand 
different notes ; while on the banks of the rivers 
were cranes and herons, white, crimson, and carna- 
tion ; the air was refreshed with gentle eastern 
breezes, and every stone they stooped to take up 
seemed to be intermixed with gold or silver. Sir 
Walter afterw^ard.s showed some of these stones to 
a Spaniard of the Caraccas, and was told they were 
the mother of gold, and though of small value 
themselves, w^ere a proof of there being mines at 
no great distance. 

There were now many reasons which rendered 
their stay unadvisable. The rains were so heavy, 
and the floods poured so suddenly from the hills, 
that they w^ere sometimes before night up to the 
neck in W'ater, upon the very spots of ground over 
which in the morning they had marched dryshod. 
The men had worn their clothes above a month 
without change, or being in any manner freshened 
but by the rains, which frequently washed them ten 
times a day on the owners' backs. They had be- 
sides no implemerts w^ith them to open mines, and, 



WESTERN TTORJ.D. 251 

if they advanced farther, they would encounter a 
numerous^ civilized, and warlike people. These^ 
and many other inconveniences, made them resolve 
to make the best of tlieir way back to the ships^ 
from which they had now been absent above a 
month, and had in that space proceeded about four 
hundred miles from the sea-coast. 

They embarked in their boats, and, though 
the wind was against them, arrived in a day's 
time at the port of Morequito ; for, gliding 
down the stream, they went without labour little 
less than one hundred miles a-day. Sir Walter, on 
coming to an anchor, was very desirous of having 
another conference with the old king, who soon came 
again with a numerous train loaded with pre- 
sents, when Sir Walter, having taken him into his 
tent, inquired the best way to the richest parts of 
Guiana. The old cacique intimated that he ought 
not to think of penetrating to Manoa, the capital ; 
for neither the season of the year, nor the small 
number of his men, was proper for the enterprise ; 
that in the plains of ^lagureguararai, the first 
civilized town of Guiana, three hundred Spaniards 
had been lately slain, as they had invaded it 
without having made any friends among those 
nations, who were ready to join in any attempts 
against the kingdom of Guiana; and he therefore 
advised Sir Walter not to invade the strong parts 
of Guiana without obtaining the assistance of the 
nations who were their enemies. The king also 
informed him, that he believed he might with his 
present force seize on the town of Magureguararai, 



252 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

where all the gold plates were made that were 
dispersed through the neighbouring nations, and 
which was but four days' journey thence, and he 
offered to assist him with his subjects, provided 
fifty Englishmen were left behind for his guard. 
But, as Sir Walter declined the expedition, the king 
begged him to leave his territories as soon as pos- 
sible, lest the Epuremei should learn that he had 
given him any assistance, or the Spaniards should 
return and insult him : they having once before 
taken him prisoner, and led him in chains seventeen 
days, till he paid one hundred plates of gold for 
his ransom. If, however, Sir Walter would promise 
to return early the next year, he would engage all 
the neighbouring nations to assist him against the 
Epuremei, who had plundered them of their wives, 
and assured him tliey would gladly renew the wai 
to recover them ; for the old king complained 
grievously, that the Epuremei possessed from fifty 
to one hundred women each, while he and his 
principal subjects had but three or four wives 
a-piece. 

Sir Walter, while he stayed here, obtained many 
images and plates of gold, not so much for their 
value as to shew them as samples ; and, to prevent 
the people from entertaining a notion that he 
came for gold, he gave among them more twenty- 
shilling pieces of the queen's coin than they were 
worth. He also took with him some of the spar 
and ore, to justify his report of the riches of the 
country ; and, as the highest testimony of his hav- 
ing obtained the confidence of the natives, the old 



WESTERN WORLD, 253 

Idng sent over bis own son Cayworaco to Eng- 
land; where he was afterwards baptized by the 
name of Gualtero. 

On the other hand. Sir Walter at their own re- 
quest left behind him two of his company, an 
excellent draughtsman who undertook to describe, 
as he did, all the country very exactly, and a boy 
who waited upon Sir Walter, and who was to learn 
the languages of the Indian nations, which he did 
to great perfection ; unfortunately, however, he was 
devoured by a wild beast. 

After this a cacique whose name was Putoma, 
and another called Warapana, oflered to conduct 
Sir Walter to a gold mine, which they accordingly 
did ; but, the weather being extremely bad, Sir 
Walter resolved to return as expeditiously as pos- 
sible to his ships. In his passage he was overtaken 
by a violent storm, and was nearly lost among the 
shoals, being obliged to quit his galley and take to 
his boat, with which he ventured out upon a veiy 
boisterous s^a ; however, he was the next day 
happy enough to reach Curiapa, in the island of 
Trinidad, w^here his ships lay at anchor, and where 
he was soon joined by his galley. 

In all this tedious and surprising expedition, in 
which those who engaged were exposed alike to 
the severity of the weather and to the attempts 
of their enemies, absolutely wanting most of the 
conveniences, and frequently the necessaries of life, 
Raleigh lost not a single man except the negro 
devoured by the alligator. He took a considerable 
quantity of gold ore, which he brought to England, 



254 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

and which, as it proved extremely rich, he turned 
to a very good account. 

In his return home he burnt the town of Ca- 
mana because the Spaniards refused to supply him 
with provisions^ and two other Spanish towns 
underwent the same fate, after which he returned 
safe to England, where he was received with great 
acclamations of joy. 

Captain Keymis, who was one of the adventurers, 
wrote a Latin poem on his expedition, and Mr. 
George Chapman composed an heroic poem of 
two hundred lines on the same subject, in which 
he bestows the greatest encomiums on the prudence 
and integrity of Sir Walter, who himself also 
pubhshed an account of this expedition. 

Notwithstanding the great success of the voynge, 
and the high probability of easily forming a settle- 
ment in this rich country, Sir Walter's enemies, 
jealous of his great abUities, endeavoured by the 
most invidious insinuations to discourage all at- 
tempts against Guiana, by throwing the most 
groundless aspersions on his veracity. These he 
easily answered, and immediately fitted out two 
vessels under the command of Captain Keymis, 
who left England in the latter end of January 
following, in order to cherish the friendship he had 
contracted with the Indians, rather than pursue 
any acts of hostility. Captain Keymis, on his 
arrival at the port of Morequito, received intelli- 
gence of the death of the old king, and that the 
draughtsman who had been left behind had been 
carried into captivity by the Spaniards, who had 



WESTERN WORLD. 255 

made a settlement at the mouth of the river Carol i, 
in the passage to the mines, whence Sir Walter 
had taken some ore the preceding year. 

Captain Keymis, therefore, after having had 
conferences with several of the natives, who were 
loud in their praises of Sir Walter Kaleigh, and 
expressed their inclination to support any mea- 
sures set on foot by his countrymen, returned 
to England, and arrived at Portland in the latter 
end of June, having been only five months upon 
his voyage. 

Sir Walter soon after fitted out a handsome pin- 
nace, and, having provided her with all necessaries 
for trade and discovery, she set sail from Wey- 
mouth the following December, under the com- 
mand of Captain Leonard Berry, who about the 
beginning of March fell in with the river Wiapoco, 
on the coast of Guiana. Beginning to be in 
want of provisions, and finding no inhabitants, he 
steered to a town called Armatto, at w^hich place 
he was plentifully supplied, and treated with great 
hospitality by the natives, who freely traded with 
the English. Captain Berry then invited a neigh- 
bouring cacique, named Eitimo, on board his ship, 
who accepted the invitation, and was entertained 
in a very magnificent manner. 

The inhabitants of the neighbouring towns being 
now convinced that this was an English vessel, 
flocked to the seashore from all quarters, bringing 
provisions and tobacco ; they appeared perfectly 
satisfied with what was given them in exchange, and 



256 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

eagerly solicited the English to come and di-ivo 
the Spaniards out of their territories. 

Berry afterwards sailed up several rivers, and^ 
having procured all the intelligence possible, 
quitted the coast of Guiana, and arrived at Ply- 
mouth on the 28th of June, 1597. 



WESTERN WOELD. 257 



CHAPTER XIIL 

Captain Cliarles Leigh forms a settlement at Guiana — Discon- 
tent and mutiny among his men — Ruin of the enterprise — 
Sir Olive Leigh seeks to support his brother — Captain St. 
John and his party search for gold — An ambuscade attack 
of the Indians — Adventurous voyage — Eate of the crew — 
Kobert Harcourt's attempts to form a settlement — Intercourse 
with the Indians — Search for the golden mountain — Disap- 
pointment — Mr. Harcourt's return — Sir Walter Raleigh's last 
voyage to Guiana — Spaniards attempt to oppose his landing 
at Gomera — Reaches Trinidad — Kindness of the Indians — 
Captain Keymis and young Raleigh set out in search of gold 
— Engagements with the Spaniards — Young Raleigh killed — 
— Eate of Captain Keymis — Sir Walter's return to England 
— His arrest and execution — Voyages by the Virginia Com- 
pany — Adventures and discoveries in Virginia by Captain 
Gosnold, Captain Pringe, Captain Gilbert, and Captain Wey- 
mouth. 

Though Sir Walter Ealeigh was at this time 
prevented from making any farther discoveries of 
this rich country by the death of the queen, and 
his own long imprisonment, yet other attempts 
were made. In the year 1604, Captain Charles 
Leigh, being assisted by his brother Sir Olive, 
made a voyage to Guiana at their joint expense, 
in a bark of about fifty tons, with forty-six men 
and boys on board, and on the 22nd of May 
entered the river Wiapoco in 8° 3CK north latitude, 



258 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

intending to settle at a town of the same name 
on the cost of Guiana. 

The captain was received very kindly by the 
inhabitants, who consented to allow him, for the 
present, a space of ground and some houses, in 
consideration of which he was to assist them 
against their inveterate enemies the Caribbees. This 
agreement was made by means of two of the 
natives of Guiana who had been in England, and 
could speak some English ;, and, for the better 
security of the Indians performing their promises, 
five of them, among whom were two persons of 
dictinction, were to be sent to England. 

The first settlement made by the English was 
on a part of the mountain that lies on the west 
side of the entrance of a river, to which they gave 
the name of Mount Howard. Captain Leigh 
might here have lived a quiet life, and have been 
of great use to his country, had not his men been 
discontented and mutinous. However, the next 
year he sent his ship to England for a fresh supply 
of such things as he wanted, keeping with him 
thirty-five of his men and boys to settle his small 
village, and by this means set his colony upon a 
better footing than it had hitherto been. They 
had some trade with the natives, as well round 
their settlement as farther up the river, by which 
they obtained wax, fine white feathers, tobacco, 
parrots, monkeys, green and black cotton-yarn, 
and wool ; sweet gums, red pepper, with several 
sorts of wood, roots, and berries, partly for medi- 
cine and partly for dyeing. But sickness carried off 



WESTERN WORLD. 259 

a considerable number of the company, and at 
length the captain himself, being seized with it, also 
died. By this unhappy stroke the whole under- 
taking was ruined ; and every one, shifting for him- 
self, returned to England,^ veiy much to the regret 
of the Indians, some of them in a French ship, 
and others in two Dutch vessels. 

In the mean time^ Sir Olive Leigh, resolving 
to support his brother in the establishment of his 
government at Guiana, before he had any account 
of him fitted out another ship, under Captain 
Catalin and Captain St. John, to carry him a fresh 
supply of men and necessaries.. This ship set sail 
in April, 1605 ; but by contrary winds and cur- 
rents, and the unskilfalness of the master, it was 
carried so far to the leeward that the men despaired 
of ever recovering their intended port. They 
therefore put in first at Barbadoes,, and afterwards 
at the island of St. Lucia, designing to return 
thence to England : but having examined their 
stores of provisions, and found that they were far 
from being sufficient to supply so large a company 
for so long a voyage, Captain St. John, with sixt}^- 
seven of the passengers,. resolved rather to stay and 
take their lot upon that island;, than run the hazard 
of being starved at sea. 

These English soon made acquaintance with the 
Indians, who, in exchange for trifles, furnished 
them with roots, fruit, and some fowls : and they 
had every night an opportunity of taking, with 
very little trouble, the most delicate turtle upon 
the sandS; so that here they were in no want 



260 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

of food. Five or six days they lived in huts of 
their own building, without makiug any excursions 
into the country.; but the captain^ one day seeing 
some pieces of metal upon the arms of some of the 
Indians, and having been informed by a refiner ia 
his company that they w^ere at least three parts 
goldj inquired of the Indians whence .they had 
them^ upon which they pointed to a very high 
mountain in the north-west part of the island. 

Upon this Captain St. John, w^ith some of the 
chief of his men, went in quest of this golden 
mountain^ the rest being appointed to keep guard 
at home, with the assurance that they would return 
in a week's time. AVhen.they were gone, the others 
expected that the Indians would bring them pro- 
visions as usual, but they heard nothing more of 
them for three days together. 

It seems that the Indians had observed the cap- 
tain's departure, and, following him, cut him off 
with his whole company ; and they had no sooner 
done this than they resolved to serve those who 
stayed behind in the same manner. For this pur- 
pose they got one Augramart, a daring fellow, 
and captain of the island of St. Vincent, to head 
them. To cover their design they behaved as usual, 
and frequently visited the English, till one day 
Augramart, who had been dining -with them, per- 
suaded them to go with him to his quarters, w^here 
he promised to furnish them with whatever pro- 
visions they wanted. 

Upon this invitation they ^et -out, seventeen in 
number ; but the Indians, instead of conducting 



WESTERN WOKLDo 261 

them to their quarters, led them into an ambuscade, 
where they were surrounded by about five hundred 
of the natives, who discharged their arrows at them 
on all sides, till the English, after exerting them- 
selves to the utmost of their power, were all of 
them slain but one, who made his escape from this 
bloody slaughter, and was forced to hide himself 
in a wood, whence, swimming over a lake, with 
much difficulty he returned home just time enough 
to alarm his companions. It was now not long be- 
fore the Indians appeared before their houses; but, 
when the English discharged some small pieces of 
ordnance at them, they quickly marched off. How- 
ever, in two or three days they returned, to the 
number of thirteen or fourteen hundred, and, after 
having attacked a little fort and some houses for 
seven days together with small success, they resolved 
to burn them, by throwing in fire with their arrows, 
which in a short time reduced the habitations of 
the English to a heap of ashes. The men, however, 
continued to defend themselves so bravely, that the 
Indians, finding that they could not accomplish 
their design against this handful of men, at last 
abandoned the enterprise. 

After their departure, some of the neighbouring 
Indians were prevailed upon to furnish the English 
with an old pitiful boat in exchange for some 
hatchets, knives, and beads. This frail craft they 
fitted up as well as they could, and nineteen of 
them, the miserable remains of sixty-eight, ven- 
tured out to sea in her, without chart or compass, 
and with only four or five gallons of water, with a 



262 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

few plaDtains and potatoes, about twenty biscuits, 
and a little rice. What was still worse, they had 
not one mariner among them, and this little boat 
was so overladen that her gunnel lay almost evec 
with the water. 

After they had been ten days at sea, during 
which four of the men were obliged by turns to 
eontinue baling out the water, just as all hope 
began to fail them they discovered land ; but on 
gaining the shore they found, to their unspeakable 
disappointment, that it was an uninhabited island, 
which afforded no manner of sustenance. In this 
miserable state they had no other remedy than to 
send five of the men to the continent to seek relief. 
These, after many difficulties, reached the main- 
land, and went to an Indian town called TocoyOj 
whence, after being absent fifteen days, they brought 
succour to their miserable companions, who were 
now reduced to thirteen. By the help of these 
supplies they got to a Spanish town called Coro, 
where they were treated with great humanity, and 
where two more of them died. Three of them went 
from thence to Oarthagena, and were followed 
thither by two more, and here they procured a 
passage to Spain; but what became of the rest 
does not any where appear. 

Notwithstanding the series of misfortunes which 
had attended all the attempts made to establish 
this settlement, Mr. Eobert Harcourt caused a 
squadron of three vessels under his own command 
to be fitted out for the same enterprise ; the Eose, 
a ship of 80 tons; the Patience, of 36 tons; and the 



WESTERN WORLD. 263 

Lily shallop, of 9 tons burden, which sailed from 
Dartmouth on the 29th of March, 1609, and 
arrived in the bay of Wiapoco on the 17th of May. 

It was not long before several canoes of Indians 
came to see who they were, and, finding they were 
English, 'went on board without the least fear or 
ceremony. These people were from the town called 
Caripo, on the east side of the hill, at the mouth 
of Wiapoco river. Their king or chief, who had 
been many years in England, was then with Mr. 
Harcourt as well as another of his countrymen ; but 
his distinction was not discovered till the joy of his 
subjects at the sight of him made him known. 
Among the Indians who came first on board was 
one who spoke English perfectly well, and was 
known to some of the sailors, having served Sir 
John Gilbert in England many years.; and as the 
Indian who accompanied the king had been four- 
teen years in England, these 4:wo were of singular 
service to the adventurers. 

The first ceremonies of greeting being over, Mr. 
Harcourt informed them that he was come to 
settle a colony there, and to take possession of the 
country for the King of England, by virtue of their 
grant of it to Captain Leigh, and by some of their 
countrymen before his time to Sir Walter Kaleigh, 
assuring them at the same time, that his majesty 
intended no unjust usurpation over them:; but that 
he would be their friend and protector, and secure 
them from the insolence of the Caribbees. After 
debating some time, the Indians consented to their 
living among them, but expressed some diffidence 



264 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

as to their performing their promises, as Sir TTalter 
Ealeigh had beeen so long without accomplishing 
his. 

This little affair being settled, all went on shore, 
where they met with the best reception the Indians 
could give them, and dispersed up and down the 
town, on the side of a hill, while their ships rode at 
anchor at the foot of it. Heavy rain set in, which 
confined them nearly a month, and, as soon as it 
ceased, the captain endeavoured to discover the 
golden mountain, which had been the spur to 
this undertaking. His guide, however, who had 
promised great things, failed in the performance 
of them, for when he came to the spot no gold 
was to be found. Still all the English were 
fully satisfied that the country afforded gold, as 
well from the assurances given them by the natives, 
who showed them some images, which upon an 
assay appeared to contain at least one-third gold, 
as from their observing great quantities of the 
white spar in which gold is contained ; but they 
had reason to believe these mines were too far up 
in the higher parts of Guiana, and were perhaps 
too strongly guarded for them to hope that they 
should be able to reach them. Besides, they had 
neither time nor power to search in a proper manner 
to find the mines. 

This disappointment was nearly occasioning a 
mutiny among them, for they had come with no 
other view than to amass wealth. But the captain 
with great prudence prevented things running to 
such a length, and, to keep the men employed, not 



WESTERN TVOELD. 265 

only went himself up the river of Wiapoco upon 
discovery, but sent his brother, with some others, 
on the same errand to the river Arrawary, and 
the country bordering upon it, which reaches to 
the river Amazon. He also went and took pos- 
session of the mountain Gomoribo, the utmost 
point of land to the northward in the Wiapoco. 
This he did, according to custom, by the usual 
ceremony of twig and turf, in the presence both of 
his own people and the Indians. 

The attempt of the captain's brother, in making 
the discovery of the river Arrawary, was attended 
with much difficulty ; for the length they ran by 
sea to this river was near one hundred leagues, 
through terrible breakers upon flats and shoals. 
They went fifty leagues up the river ; and all this 
was done with only flat-bottomed canoes, some- 
thing longer than the common Thames wherries, 
but not so broad. The Indians they met with in 
this river, plainly discovered that they had never 
seen any Europeans before. It was long ere they 
could be brought to any sort of trade or conversa- 
tion with them, though they had other Indians in 
their company ; at last, however, the sight of their 
toys induced them to purchase them with provisions. 
But, when these failed, the English were obliged to 
return to Wiapoco ; they nevertheless took pos- 
session of the country in form, as Mr. Harcourt 
had done of Gomoribo. 

Some time after, Mr. Harcourt returned to Eng- 
land, leaving behind him fifty or sixty of his men, 
ov^er whom he appointed his brother commander- 



266 r>iscovEEii:s in the 

in-chief, and joined Captain Harvey as his assistant. 
In his way homewards he made several discoveries 
upon the coast and in some of the rivers, and, 
after his return to England, obtained by the favour 
of Prince Henry a patent for all the coast of 
Guiana and the river of the Amazons. Being 
soon involved in many troubles, he was unable to 
supply his colony. However, his brother kept 
possession of that part of the country in which he 
was settled during three years, during which time 
he lost but six of his people. 

At length Sir Walter Ealeigh, after suffering a 
very long imprisonment in the Tower of London 
on the pretence of a j)lot, for which he had been 
condemned to die, procured his liberty, and, though 
he had been twelve years in prison, obtained a 
commission to execute his last expedition to 
Guiana. In order to effect this, he turned the 
best part of his fortune into money, which he 
employed in fitting out ships, and he also prevailed 
on many of his best friends to do the same. Seve- 
ral of these embarked with him, and among them his 
eldest son. This fleet consisted of seven sail of 
different sizes, with whichSir Walter left Plymouth 
harbour in July 1612, and, 'before he had passed 
the coast of England, he was joined by as many 
more, so that his whole fleet consisted of fourteen 
ships. For these last he waited some time, and it 
had been better if he had left them behind ; for 
they proved a burden to him, and some of them 
deserted the expedition. 

Soon after he obtained this reinforcement, he 



V^ESTERN WORLD. 267 

met with a storm, which obliged him to put into 
Cork, from which port he sailed on the 19th of 
August, and on the 6th of September arrived off 
the island of Lancerota, when he sent to desire 
leave of the governor to purchase provisions. But 
though he at first promised him a meeting, he 
deferred it, and at length refused to have any 
dealings with Sir Walter, under the pretence that 
the inhabitants were so much afraid of him that 
he dared not ; moreover, he desired him to draw off 
such of his men as had landed upon the island. 
But, though he complied with his request, they fell 
upon his men in their retreat, and slew one of them. 
Of this outrage Sir "Walter complained to the 
governor of the Canaries, who, instead of sending 
him an answer, sallied out upon them as they were 
marching in order to draw water in a desert part 
of the island ; and had not young Ealeigh, and 
some other officers, behaved with great bravery on 
the occasion, they would all have been slain. Sir 
Walter, who was careful of giving offence to the 
court of Spain, did -not return these acts of 
hostility. 

Hence he steered to Gomera^ where the Span- 
iards resolved to oppose his landing. They lined 
the beach, and, standing close to the water, saluted 
him very roughly, but they were soon dispersed 
by the ship guns. After this treatment. Sir 
Walter sent a. messenger on shore, to let the 
governor know that he had no hostile intention ; 
that he only wanted a few necessaries, for which 
he would pay very honourably ; and that, if any of 



268 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

his men should attempt the least fraud or riot, he 
would hang them in the market-place. So well 
did he keep his word, that the governor wrote 
a letter for him to deliver to Count Gondamor, 
the Spanish ambassador at the court of London, 
wherein he acknowledged Sir Walter's courteous 
behaviour, and gave him the character he so justly 
merited. Many civilities passed between Sir Walter 
and the governor's lady, who was of English ex- 
traction, being related by her mother's side to the 
Staffords, This lady sent him sugar, fruits, and 
other useful presents, for which, in return, he gave 
her a beautiful picture of Mary Magdalen, a ruff 
finely wrought, and some extracts of amber and 
rose-water, which w^ere highly valued in the 
island. 

After Sir Walter left the Canaries, his ships' 
companies grew very sick, and, before he reached 
the island of Trinidad, he lost many of his men, 
and was himself dangerously ill. In this weak and 
low condition he arrived off Wiapoco, where he 
hoped to have been assisted by Leonard, an Indian 
who had lived with him three or four years in Eng- 
land ; but, being told that he had removed so far 
up into the country that there was no finding him, 
he stood away for Caliana on the coast of Guiana, 
at its first discovery called Port Howard, where the 
cacique had been also his servant, and had lived 
with him two years in the tower of London, under 
the name of Harry. He arrived there in a day 
or two, having passed by an island remarkable for 
its being covered with a multitude of birds, from 



WESTERN WORLD. 269 

whence he sent to the cacique, his late Indian 
servant, who, with other caciques, came and 
brought him an abundance of cassavi bread, plan- 
tains, roasted mullets, pistachios, and pine-apples. 

Here he landed his sick men, and had tents 
pitched on shore, by which means both he and his 
people recovered strength daily, from the benefit 
they received from the land air, and the refreshments 
they obtained. He here also set up his barges and 
shallops, which he had brought in pieces from 
England ; cleansed his ships ; fixed up a forge ; 
made such iron-works as were wanted ; and took 
in a fresh supply of water. 

Thus the English were employed about three 
weeks on shore, and in the river. During this 
time Sir Walter was very kindly treated by the 
Indians w^ith whom he had formerly been ac- 
quainted, ^ and by the other natives of the place, 
who daily furnished him with the best provisions 
the country afforded ; offered him their obedience, 
and even proposed to make him their sovereign, on 
condition that he would abide and settle among 
^them ; so high was the gratitude they still felt for 
his former behaviour. These proposals he men- 
tioned in his despatches to England with the 
greatest modesty and unconcern. 

On the 4th of December the English left this 
river, and the next day came to an island, where 
Sir Walter's ship ran on the shoals, and was with 
difficulty got off. 

Sir Walter was still ill, and it was resolved that 
he should stay with five of the ships at Punto de 



270 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

Gallo, in the island of Trinidad ; while the rest, 
commanded by Captain Keymis, young Raleigh, 
Sir Walter's son, and a few others, with five or 
six companies of foot, should proceed up the 
river Oronoko with a month's provisions in search 
of the mine, the men being ordered to encamp till 
the depth and breadth of the mine should be dis- 
covered. Sir Walter at the same time desired 
that, if they found the Spaniards very strong, they 
would be careful of landing, as a repulse from 
them would reflect dishonour on the nation ; and 
he concluded by observing, that if they did not 
find the mine well worth the pains of working, 
they need only bring a small quantity o-f the ore, 
to convince the king that it was not a mere fiction 
of his own invention. 

With these instructions the five ships set for- 
ward on the 10th of December, and soon reached 
a new Spanish town called St. Thomas, upon the 
main channel of the Oronoko, where Antonio Ber- 
reo, who was taken by Ealeigh in the island of 
Trinidad, had planted a settlement. This town 
consisted of about one hundred and forty houses, 
slightly built, with a chapel, a convent of Francis- 
cans, and a garrison. Keymis and the rest now 
thought themselves obliged, through fear of leaving 
the enemy between them and the boats, to deviate 
from their instructions, by which they had been 
enjoined, first, to take a small party to make trial 
of the mine, under shelter of their own camp, and 
then to deal with the town as they should see 
cause. It was now resolved to go on shore in one 



WESTEEN WORLD. 271 

body, between the mine and the town : but un- 
happily landing by night nearer the town than 
they suspected, as they were intending to rest them- 
selves by the river side till morning, they were at- 
tacked by the Spanish troops, who had been apprised 
of their coming. Their charge was so unexpected, 
and the common soldiers w^ere struck wdth such 
consternation, that, had they not been animated by 
their commanders, they would have been all cut to 
pieces; however, they soon rallied by the example 
of these brave men, and made such a vigorous de- 
fence that the Spaniards were put to flight. In 
the heat of the pursuit, the English found them- 
selves at the Spanish town before they knew where 
they were. Here the battle was renewed; they 
were assaulted by the governor himself, Don Diego 
Palameca, and four or five captains at the head of 
their companies, when Captain Walter Ealeigh, 
a brave and sprightly young man of twenty-three 
years of age, rushed forwards at the head of a com- 
pany of pikemen, without waiting for the musket- 
eers, and, having killed one of the Spanish captains, 
was himself mortally wounded by another. Still 
pressing on with his sword upon Erinetta, pro- 
bably the captain who had shot him, that Spaniard 
knocked him down with the but-end of his musket, 
and upon this the brave youth crying, '' Lord have 
mercy upon me, and prosper your enterprise I '' ex- 
pired. At the same instant, young Raleigh's 
sergeant thrust the Spanish commander through 
with his halbert. Two other of the commanders 
were also slain, and at length the governor himself, 



272 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

fainting under his wounds, was trampled to death. 
At his death his men dispersed, some of them 
taking shelter in the houses about the market- 
place, whence they killed and wounded the Eng- 
lish at pleasure. These, finding it no easy thing to 
dislodge them, set fire to the houses, and drove 
them into the woods and mountains, whence the 
Spaniards still continued to cause them alarm. 

Captain Keymis, leaving a garrison in the place, 
resolved after this to make an attempt upon the 
mines, some of which were not far distant ; but 
the Spaniards who had fled, having taken posses- 
sion of the passes that led to them^ he found all 
approach to them very difficult, particularly that 
to the mine he had in view. The river was so 
low, that in most places he could not approach 
the banks that were near it by a mile; and, 
when he found an ascent, he received a volley of 
musket-shot from the woods, which killed two of 
the rowers, and wounded six more of his men, 
among whom was Captain Amhurst. 

Captain Keymis, finding the attempt very hazar- 
dous, the passage being full of thick and impass- 
able woods, and thinking that the English, who were 
left on shore at the Spanish town, would not be 
able to defend it, especially if the enemy should be 
reinforced, gave over the enterprise, and returned 
to St. Thomas's, where the English plundered the 
town, and carried away the most valuable part of 
the treasure. As the enemy did not dare to appear, 
in order to ransom the rest^ they set fire to that 
part of it which was still unconsumed. 



WESTERN WORLD. 273 

Sir Walter, upon the news of his son's death, 
and the ill success of this expedition, which had 
so greatly disappointed him in his hopes, severely 
reprimanded Captain Keymis, and exclaimed that 
he had betrayed him ; observing, that if he had 
brought only one hundred- weight of the ore, though 
with the loss of one hundred men, it would not only 
have given the king satisfaction and preserved 
his reputation, but would have afforded the nation 
encouragement to return the next year with a 
greater force, and to hold the country for his 
majesty, to whom it belonged. Keymis retired in 
discontent to his cabin, and soon after the dis- 
charge of a pistol was heard ; Sir Walter called 
out to know the reason, when Captain Keymis 
answered that it was nothing but a pistol he had 
let off on account of its having been long charged ; 
but, in about an hour after, his boy found him 
lying dead, weltering in blood, with a pistol and a 
long knife lying near him. Upon examination 
it appeared, that he had endeavoured first to shoot 
himself, but the bullet being small, had only 
cracked one of his ribs, so that, effectually to put 
an end to his life, he thrust the knife through 
his left breast. 

Sir Walter now called a council of his officers, 
who were of opinion that they ought to retire to 
Newfoundland, in order to refit and take in re- 
freshments ; but, as many of his men mutinied on 
the way, he sent them home direct to England. 

On arriving at Newfoundland great disturbances 
arose on board his own ship; and, being unable to 

T 



274 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

quell them^ he joined with the stronger party, who, 
against his own inclination, declared for returning 
to England. 

Sir Walter Ealeigh arrived at Plymouth about 
the end of July, when he found the king had pub- 
lished a proclamation, requiring him and his peo- 
ple to appear before the privy council for having 
burnt the town, of St. Thomas. He was soon 
after arrested, and, on being brought to London, 
was committed prisoner to his own house; but 
while endeavouring to escape thence to a vessel 
which waited for him at Gravesend, he was seized 
near Greenwich, carried to the Tower, and on the 
28th of October, 1618, brought thence to the 
court of King's Bench. The record of his former 
sentence being examined, he was ordered to the 
Gate-house, and the next morning beheaded in old 
Palace-yard, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. 
When the hour of death came, he behaved like a 
brave man and a Christian. He made a nervous 
and eloquent speech in justification of his conduct; 
and then, feeling the edge of the axe, said with a 
smile, " It is a sharp medicine, but a sound cure 
for all woes.'' After which his head was struck 
off at two blows. 

All Europe was astonished at the injustice and 
cruelty of this deed ; but Gondamor, the Spanish 
ambassador, thirsted for Ealeigh's blood, for he had 
been the scourge of Spain during the reign of Queen 
Elizabeth, and King James had not the courage to 
refuse him the life of a man who, as a soldier, a 
scholar, and a statesman, was the greatest orna- 



WESTERN WORLD. 275 

ment to his own country. That mean-spirited 
monarch, to his eternal infamy, soon after ordered 
Cottington, one of his residents of Spain, to inform 
the Spanish court how able a man Sir Walter 
Ealeigh was, and yet to favour Spain he had not 
spared him, though by so doing he would have 
given great satisfaction to his own subjects, and 
would have had at his command, upon all occasions, 
as useful a man as ever served any prince in 
Christendom. 

We must now go back to the year 1602, when 
the Virginia company fitted out a vessel for that 
country, under the command of Captain Bartholo- 
mew Gosnold, who sailed from Falmouth on the 
26th of March with only thirty-two persons on 
board, and on the 11th of May arrived among 
the islands which form the north side of Massa- 
chuset's bay in New England. Meeting with no 
convenience for forming a settlement, he entered 
what is now called Plymouth bay, and afterwards 
went on shore on a small but uninhabited isle, 
which he called Elizabeth's island, and on another, 
which he named Martha's vineyard. Here some 
of his company sowed English corn, which came 
lip very kindly. On Elizabeth's island he erected 
a fort for his own security, that he might trade 
thence with the neighbouring Indians, to whom, 
the Europeans seemed to be no strangers; for 
the commander of the first body of men that came 
for the sake of trade, after the signs of peace had 
been given on both sides, made a long speech, and 
then boldly came on board the ship. And what was 



276 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

most extraordinary, he Tvas dressed in a waistcoat, 
a hat, breeches, shoes and stockings, but his atten- 
dants had only deer-skins about their shoulders, 
and seal-skins about their waists. Their hair was 
very long, and tied up in a knot behind, and, 
though they were painted all over, the natural 
swarthiness of their complexion was easily dis- 
cerned. 

On the north-west side of Elizabeth's island the 
captain found a lake of fresh water about a league 
in circumference, very near the sea, and in the 
middle of it was a small island containing about 
an acre; this they pitched upon as the most 
commodious place for building their fort. In the 
lake they found an infinite number of turtle, with 
several sorts of fish and fowl, whence those who 
proposed to settle there had the agreeable prospect 
of being in no want of provisions. On visiting the 
continent near Elizabeth's island they found the 
country extremely delightful, abounding in mea- 
dows, brooks, and rivers. They had also some 
communication with the Indians of the mainland ; 
for they traded with them for European commodi- 
ties, and gave to them, in exchange for knives and 
toys, beavers, martins, otters, foxes and rabbits, 
together with seals and deer skins. 

The affairs of this plantation might have gone 
on very prosperously had all the planters been 
unanimous ; but they w^ere solely intent upon their 
private interests, and upon making a profitable 
voyage. The captain, having in vain endeavoured 
to persuade some of them to stay in the fort, took 



WESTERN WORLD. 277 

in a large cargo of sassafras, cedar, furs, &c.^ and, 
leaving the island on the 18th of June, arrived at 
Plymouth on the 23rd of July following. 

Just at the time of Queen Elizabeth's death, a 
design was set on foot for prosecuting discoveries 
and trading to North America, in which were con- 
cerned several gentlemen and merchants of Bristol. 
Among these was the Rev. Mr.Hackluit, preben- 
dary of the cathedral of that city, w^ho was chosen 
to apply, in behalf of himself and the rest, to Sir 
Walter Raleigh, who was at the time considered 
as the proprietor of Virginia, in order to procure 
his licence for that trade. Upon his application, 
Sir Walter not only granted a licence under his 
hand and seal, but generously mad^ over to these 
adventurers all the profits that should arise from 
the voyage. 

Thus empowered, they realized the joint stock of 
one thousand pounds, and fitted out two small 
vessels, the Speedwell of fifty tons burden, com- 
manded by Matthew Fringe, with thirty men and 
boys, and the Discoverer, a bark of twenty-six 
tons, commanded by Mr. William Brown, who had 
under him a mate and eleven men and boys. These 
ships w^re victualled for eight months, and had on 
board a large cargo of goods thought most suitable 
for that country. 

They sailed from Bristol on the 20th of March, 
1603, but were obliged by contrary winds to put 
into Milford haven, where they continued till the 
20th of April following, when they proceeded on 
their voyage, and, without any remarkable accident, 



278 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

arrived on the coast of North America, in latitude 
43°, whence they sailed south-west in search of 
that part of the country which had been visited by 
Captain Gosnold. 

In latitude 41° they found a very convenient 
bay, to which they gave the name of Whit- 
son's bay, in honour of Mr. John Whitson, who 
was then mayor of Bristol. Here they landed; 
and cut a good quantity of sassafras, which they 
carried on board ; but first, to prevent their being 
surprised in the woods by the natives while they 
iwere at work, they erected a small fort or redoubt, 
in which they left their effects under a guard of 
four or five men. 

Forty or fifty, and sometimes a hundred of 
the Indians, came in a company to trade with the 
English, with whom they ate and drank, and 
were very merry. Once, on their observing an 
English lad playing upon a guitar, they got round 
about him, and, taking hold of each other's hands, 
danced twenty or thirty in a ring, after the Ameri- 
can manner. The seamen, observing that the 
natives were more afraid of two mastiffs they had 
with them than of twenty men, whenever they 
wanted to get rid of their company, had the 
brutality to let loose one of the mastiffs, when 
they ran away shrieking into the woods. This 
ill-treatment, and the erecting of a fort in the 
country, probably made the Indians look upon 
the English as their enemies ; for soon after a 
party of them came and surrounded the fort when 
most of the English were absent, and they would 



WESTERN" WOELD. 279 

probably have taken it had not Captain Fringe 
fired two guns, which alarmed the workmen in 
the woods, who immediately returned to its relief. 

The Indians indeed pretended that they had 
no hostile intentions, but the English did not care 
to trust them afterwards. The day before they 
embarked, they came in great numbers, and set 
fire to the woods where they had cut their sassa- 
fras, which was probably to let the English know 
that they would preserve nothing in their country 
that could invite such guests to visit them again. 

About the middle of June, when the English 
had completed the freight of their bark, and sent 
her off, they made all the despatch they could 
in loading their own vessel with a valuable cargo 
of skins and furs, which they had before procured 
of the Indians, in exchange for the commodities 
they had brought with them. 

These Indians much resembled those mentioned 
by Captain Gosnold: the English found many 
curiosities in the country, and were greatly de- 
lighted with a boat which they took made of the 
bark of a birch-tree, sewed together w^ith twigs, 
the seams of which were covered with rosin or 
turpentine, and though it was seventeen feet long, 
four broad, and capable of carrying nine persons, 
it did not w^eigh sixty pounds. These boats were 
rowed with oars resembling our bakers' peels, and 
went at a great rate. 

Captain Fringe, having quitted the coast of Vir- 
ginia on the 9th of August, sailed to England; 
on the 2nd of October he entered King's road, 



280 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

where lie had the satisfaction of finding that the 
bark had safely arrived a fortnight before. 

The same year another attempt was made witli 
the same object by Captain Bartholomew Gilbert, 
who had been the year before at Virginia witli 
Captain Gosnold. Gilbert sailed from Plymouth 
on the 10th of May, in the Elizabeth, a bark of 
fifty tons burden, and in his passage touched at 
St. Lucia, Dominica, and Nevis, where he traded ; 
at the last of these places he cut about twenty tons 
of lignum vitfe. 

On the 3rd of July he sailed thence for the 
coast of Virginia, and for Chesapeake bay, where 
he was very desirous of obtaining some intelligence 
of the manners and dispositions of the people. 

He arrived on the 25th near the mouth of the 
harbour ; but the wind blew so hard, and the sea 
ran so high, that he could not enter it, and there- 
fore, after beating about two or three days^ he was 
obliged to steer more to the eastward. 

On the 29th, being not far from the shore, the 
captain with four of his best men landed in their 
boat, and, as they were provided with arms, they 
proceeded some way up the country. But in their 
march, being attacked and overpowered by the 
inhabitants, they were all killed, and it was not 
without some difficulty that the boat, with two 
young men who were left in her, returned to the 
ship with this melancholy news. 

There were now in all but eleven men and boys 
in the ship, and they were afraid to venture the 
loss of any more of their small company. Their 



WESTERN WORLD. 281 

provisions growing short, Henry Sliute the master, 
who had taken the command, resolved, though 
they were in ex^^'^me want of wood and water, to 
return home ; which they did, and arrived safe in 
the river of Thames about the end of September. 

The business of setting and planting the north- 
ern continent of America being laid open by 
the attainder of Sir Walter Ealeigh, on the 
ridiculous pretence of a most improbable plot, and 
those who had been concerned in the last voyages, 
having given not only a favourable account of the 
country, but having obtained very considerable 
profit, several persons of distinction were deter- 
mined to promote these discoveries. Among them 
were Henry Wriothesly, Earl of Southampton, 
and Thomas Lord Arundel of TVardour, who 
resolved to fit out a ship for this expedition. 

This vessel, which was called the Archangel, 
and was commanded by Captain George Wey- 
mouth, sailed from Dartmouth on the 31st of 
March, 1605, and met with nothing of conse- 
quence till they imagined that they were near 
the coast of Virginia, when the wind, carrying 
them northward into latitude 41^ 50', and their 
wood and water beginning to grow short, they 
became very desirous of seeing land, as their 
charts gave them reason to expect. They therefore 
bore directly in ; but found none in a run of almost 
fifty leagues. However, after long anxiety, they 
obtained sight of an island that was very woody, ^ 
along the shore. It abounded in fruit, and vast 
numbers of fowls ; the sea afforded plenty of fish^ 



282 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

while large streams of fresh water ran down the 
ch'ffs. 

This was the eastern part of what is now called 
Long Island ; from it they could discern a great 
many other islands, and the mainland stretching 
from the west-south-west to the east-north-east. 
They visited severaPof the islands near the con- 
tinent, and found them very full of timber, and 
fruit-trees of various sorts. 

Among these islands they met with a harbour 
in which ships of any burden might lie defended 
from all winds, in from six to ten fathoms water, 
and this they called Pentecost harbour, from its 
being discovered about Whitsuntide. The fir-trees, 
which grew in great numbers on the islands, 
yielded excellent turpentine, and many of the 
shells they found about the rocks afforded small 
pearls. 

While they lay here, the natives from the con- 
tinent came to trade with them for skins and furs, 
in exchange for knives, beads, and such trifles ; 
they very readily gave the value of ten or twelve 
pounds in their goods for such English hardware 
as was not v/ortli above five shillings. 

Their bows, arrows, and canoes, were like those 
of the other Indians on the coast. The heads of 
their tobacco-pipes were sometimes made of clay, 
and sometimes were only the claw of a lobster ; 
but they were all large enough to hold as much as 
ten or twelve of ours. 

The most extraordinary discovery made in this 
voyage was that of a river, which was esteemed 



WESTERN WOULD. 283 

by ttose who found it the most beautiful in 
America. They sailed several leagues up it, and 
foucd it of considerable breadth for forty miles 
together, being in most places a mile broad, in 
some three-quarters, but never less than half a 
mile. It flows sixteen or eighteen feet, and is six 
or ten fathoms deep at low water. On both sides 
there are, at a small distance from each other, 
many fine coves, some of which are able to contain 
above one hundred sail : here the ground is soft, 
with a tough clay underneath for anchorage. 
Nature has also formed several convenient places 
as docks, in which ships of all burdens might be 
graven and careened. The neighbouring land 
extends on both sides in a smooth line, and, instead 
of rocks and cliffs, is bordered with grass, and tall 
trees of different sorts. 

After they had remained here about six week?, 
during w^hich time they carried on a very profitable 
trade with the natives, they thought of returning 
to England. On the 16th of June, they set sail 
and arrived that day month in sight of the Land's 
End. 



284 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 



CHAPTER XIV. 

North and South Virginia — King James I. grants patents for 
two Companies — Captain Newport's settlements — James's 
River and James's Town — Misfortunes and confusion — Cap- 
tain Smith — Lord Delawar appointed governor of Virginia — 
Eeturn of the runaways — Supplies from England — Inter- 
marriages with the Indians — Some account of Virginia — Its 
climate, soil, and produce — Proceedings of the second 
Virginia Company — Settlement of New England — Mr. John 
Robinson and the Pilgrim Fathers — Squanto, friendly inter- 
course with the Indians — Great prosperity of the settlement — 
Situation and climate of New England — Settlement of the 
Bermudas or Summers Islands — Captain Tucker's govern- 
ment — Daring voyage of five fugitives to Ireland — Captain 
Butler appointed governor — Description of the islands. 

The prosperous voyage, of which we have just 
given the narrative in the last chapter, induced 
many persons of rank and fortune to wish tliis 
trade to be thoroughly established ; they therefore 
applied to the crown for such legal authorities as 
were necessary, and two companies were formed 
for settling the large tract of land, which was at 
this time divided into north and south Virginia. 
One of these companies consisted of adventurers 
from the city of London, who were desirous of 
fixing a plantation between 34° 41^ of north lati- 
tude, and the other of those of the cities of Bristol, 
Exeter, and the town of Plymouth, who wanted to 



WESTERN WORLD. 285 

settle between 38^ and 45^. Each of these com- 
panies obtained letters-patent, in which it was 
provided that the respective colonies should not 
settle within one hundred miles of each other. 
That they should possess a hundred miles of the 
country to the westward, within the land ; fifty 
miles either way along the coast, from the seat of 
their first settlement, and all the islands opposite to 
the coast for the space of one hundred miles at sea. 
They were empowered to dig mines in and beyond 
their respective limits to the westward, paying the 
crown a fifth of all the gold and copper ore they 
should obtain : they were- likewise empowered to 
seize all the ships that should attempt to trade 
within their respective limits, and even to coin 
money, and raise forces for their own defence. 

These companies no sooner received this exten- 
sive authority from the crown, than they began in 
earnest to provide for making settlements within 
the boundaries prescribed by their respective grants. 
.With this view, the> London company fitted out 
three vessels, one of 100 tons, another of 40, and a 
pinnace of 20 ; on board of which were one hun- 
dred and ten landsmen, with every thing necessary 
for settling a colony. The command of this small 
squadron was given to Captain Christopher New- 
port; but the orders relating to the government of 
the colony, and the name of the council who were 
to be intrusted with the administration of it when 
settled, were delivered to them in a box sealed up, 
which was not to be opened till they were on 
shore. 



286 DISCOVERIES IK THE 

This first squadron sailed from London on the 
20th of Decemberj 1606, took in water and other 
necessaries at the Canaries, and proceeded to the 
Carribbee islands, where they arrived on the 23rd 
of February, and stayed chiefly at the island Nevis 
about five weeks. On the 3rd of April they sailed 
for Virginia, and on the 26th of the same month 
landed at the southern cape of Chesapeake bay, 
where they built a fort which they called Cape 
and Fort Henry, while to the northern cape they 
gave the name of Cape Charles, in honour of the 
two princes ; the river Powhatan they called 
James's river, in honour of the king. 

This river they completely searched before they 
could come to any resolution about forming a 
settlement, and then, by unanimous consent, 
pitched upon a peninsula about fifty miles up the 
river. Besides the goodness of the soil, this spot was 
esteemed very advantageous as a place of trade and 
security, two-thirds of it being surrounded by the 
main river, which all along affords good anchorage; 
and the other third by a small river, able to re- 
ceive vessels of 100 tons burden till it comes 
within thirty yards of the great river, where it 
generally overflows in spring tides ; and on this 
account this peninsula was called an island, and 
both the town and the river received their name 
from King James. The whole island, thus inclosed, 
contains about two thousand acres, besides many 
thousands of very good marsh-lands, with as fine 
pasturage as any in this country. The narrow 
passage by which access was to be had to it, ren- 



-VVESTERN WORLD. 287 

dered this place very secure from being attacked 
by the enemy ; and, to add to its strength, they 
liere built castles and a fort. This was the first 
English plantation that succeeded in this part. 

The first business the colony entered upon 
after landing was opening their orders, when they 
found that seven gentlemen were appointed to form 
their council, one of whom was Captain Smith, on 
whose skill and experience the company in England 
seemed to rely more than upon any of the rest. 
But they themselves had such a dislke to him that 
they had confined him prisoner ever since they left 
England, and now excluded him from the council. 
Somewhat later, after they had by their perpetual 
quarrels almost ruined the company's prospects, 
they were obliged not only to admit him, but in a 
manner to resign the administration of ajffairs into 
his hands. 

When the ships had stayed five or six weeks be- 
fore the intended new town, Captain Newport de- 
parted with them for England, having left upwards 
of one hundred men settled in this new form of 
government: but the ships were no sooner gone 
than the same feuds and disorders broke out again 
with fresh violence. However, notwithstanding 
them, they set to planting, sowing, building, and 
fortifying. They also carried on a very advan- 
tageous trade with the natives : and of this they 
might have made much greater profit, and have 
managed it more to the satisfaction of the Indians, 
if they had been under any discipline, and not at 
liberty to outbid one another. By such folly they 



288 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

not only lessened their own profit, but created 
jealousies and disturbances among the Indians, by 
letting one have a better bargain than another; so 
that those who had been hardest dealt with, thought 
themselves cheated and abused, and conceived an 
aversion to the English in general. This seems to 
have been the origin of most of the vexations the 
English received from the Indians at this time. 

But now a new discovery withdrew their thoughts 
not only from trade, but from taking the necessary 
care of their own preservation. They found in the 
isthmus of the peninsula on which James's town 
was built, a spring of water that flowed from a 
small bank, and washed down with it a yellow 
sort of dust, whichy as it lay shining at the bottom, 
filled their minds with an insatiable desire of riches. 
For, taking this to be gold, they were stupid 
enough to neglect both the necessary defence of 
their lives from the attacks of the Indians, and the 
support of their bodies by procuring provisions, 
absolutely relying upon the power of gold ; think- 
ing that, where this was in abundance, nothing else 
could be w^anting; jand thus, infatuated with the 
hopes of obtaining mountains of wealth, they de- 
spised the mines of Peru and Mexico in comparison 
vrith their own inestimable stream. Too soon, 
however, they grew in some measure sensible of 
their error ; for, by their negligence, they w^ere re- 
duced to great scarcity of provisions, and the little 
they had was lost by the burning of the town 
while all hands were employed about this imaginary 
treasure, so that they were obliged to live upon 



WESTERN WORLD* 289 

fiuit, crabs, and mussels, without having a day's 
provision beforehand. Many of them became a 
prey to the Indians, while the rest, not daring to 
venture abroad, were obliged to be contented with 
what they could get. 

They were in this miserable condition when a 
ship arrived the next year, freighted with men and 
provisions for the supply of the plantation ; but, as 
they could neither think nor speak of any thing 
but gold, they put on board this vessel all the 
yellow sand they had gathered, with the skins and 
furs for which they had bartered with the Indians, 
and then sent her away. Soon after another ship 
arrived, when they stowed her also with this imagi- 
nary gold-dust, and some little cedar and clapboard. 

At length, however, being persuaded that they 
might apply themselves to other labours more 
necessary than collecting yellow sand, which would 
always be in their power if they did but take care 
to fortify themselves effectually, they began in 
earnest to make their position secure. By the good 
management of Captain Smith, they made several 
discoveries in James's river and Chesapeake bay, 
and in the year 1608 first gathered Indian corn of 
their own planting. Most unhappily, Captain 
Smith, going to make discoveries up the country, 
was attacked by three hundred of the Indians 
under the command of one of their chiefs, who 
slew all his men, and, having taken him prisoner, 
carried him before Powhatan, their principal sove- 
reign, who would have put him to death had it 
not been for the intercession of his daughter 



290 BISCOVEKIES IN THE 

Pacaliurita. Captain Smith, on being released, re- 
turned to James's town, when the president of the 
council resigning his oflSce, he was unanimously 
iesired to accept it. 

While Captain Smith was employed in making 
these discoveries, things ran again into confusion 
in James's town ; and several unsettled persons, 
taking advantage of his absence, attempted to 
desert, and to run away with a small vessel that 
was left to attend the settlement; for Smith was the 
only man among them who could manage dis- 
coveries with success, or keep the people in any 
order. Two otlier settlements were now made, one 
at Nanfamona in James's river, above thirty miles 
bel.ow James s town^ and the other at Pawhatan, 
six miles below the fells of the river — this last was 
bought of Powhatan for a certain quantity of 
copper : each settlement consisted of one hundred 
and twenty men, and soon after a fourth v/as 
made near the mouth of James's river. 

Two-thirds of the adventurers, who had come over 
under the impression that they could have every 
thing provided to their hands, were being main- 
tained by the labour of the other industrious third ; 
but Captain Smith compelled them all to take a 
share in the work, and, when this was done, a 
sufficient quantity of ground was soon planted to 
support the colony in plenty. By moderate exer- 
cise and good food, they were not only restored to 
health, but became in a very flourishing condition. 
Being now no longer under the necessity of pro- 
curing food from the Indians by violence^ they 



WESTERN WORLD. 291 

lived and traded with them very amicably, and 
Powhatan suffered them to make several other 
settlements in the country. 

When their affairs were in this prosperous 
situation, the arrival of six or seven ships from 
England with a large supply of ammunition and 
provisions, and between three and four hundred 
planters, threw the whole colony into confusion. 
But this being made known to the company in Eng- 
land, they obtained a new patent from King James, 
which empowered them to appoint a governor, when 
they prevailed on the Lord Delawar to accept of 
that office. AVhereupon that nobleman made Sir 
Thomas Gates, Sir George Summers, and Captain 
Newport his deputies till his arrival, and these 
three set sail from England, with nine ships and 
five hundred men, in May, 1609, 

The three deputies, who embarked in the same 
ship, were unfortunately cast away on the Ber- 
muda islands, which were then uninhabited ; bufe 
they and all the crew escaped on shore, where they 
found plenty of provisions, and took possession of 
the islands for the crown of England : since which 
time these islands have been called the Summers 
Islands, from Sir George Summers. 

Meanwhile the rest of the fleet arrived safe in 
Chesapeake bay, where Captain Smith was still the 
president; but both the old and new planters de- 
clared that they were not obliged to obey him, as 
another commission had been granted, which had 
superseded his. Captain Smith, however, kept 
them in some order while he remained among 



292 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 

tliem ; but, as he had the misfortune to he 
accidentally wounded by the explosion of some gun- 
powder, it was found absolutely necessary for him 
to return to England with the vessels that sailed 
soon after. Smith was no sooner on board than 
everything went wrong in the settlement: all busi- 
ness was neglectedy and the people, living profusely 
upon what was contained in the magazines, were 
quickly reduced to want, and when this came they 
rambled about without order through the country, 
plundering the natives of their provisions, while 
they in turn attacked them in their own defence, 
and cut off great numbers of them. 

Things were in this situation when the deputy 
governors arrived in two sloops which they had 
huilt in the Bermudas ; and they had the mortifica* 
tion to see that the vices of these, men, together 
with sickness and famine, had reduced them from 
upwards of four hundred to less than eighty. Sir 
Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers endea- 
voured by every means in their power to remove 
their troubles, and to reduce them once more to 
order; but it was all in vain, for the -people show- 
ing their empty warehouses, their ruined settlements, 
and the number of their sick, obliged them to con- 
sent to their embarking for England -as the only 
means of saving those who were left. 

Just as they were sailing out of Chesapeake bay, 
they were met by a ship in which was their new 
governor, the Lord Delawar, who obliged them to 
go back to James's town, in order to repair their 
houses and forts. They had no sooner returned 



TVESTERN WORLD. 293 

on shore than his lordship set before them, in a free 
and plain speech, the folly and madness of their 
proceedings. He reproved them for their divisions, 
their idleness, and ill conduct, which had occasioned 
their misfortunes ; advising them to reform, or ho 
should be compelled to draw the sword of justice, 
and cut off the delinquents, declaring, however^ 
that he had much rather draw his own sword in 
their defence ; and telling them, for their encourage- 
ment, that he -had brought them such abundance 
of provisions^ that there would be no danger of 
want for the future if they- were not wanting to 
themselves. He then proceeded to constitute a 
council, and afterwards furnished the people with 
meat ; for though there were no less than five or six 
hundred hogs in the plantation when Captain Smith 
went to England, there was not at this time one 
left alive. They had been eicher eaten by the colo- 
nists or destroyed by the Indians, who had likewise 
driven all the deer and other game out of the 
country, and the English were so ill provided with 
nets, that, though there was plenty of fish in the 
rivers, they knew not how to take them. 

The company had sent over a supply of clothing, 
. biscuits, flour, beer, and other liquors ; but, having 
taken it for granted that there were hogs, venison, 
fowd, and fish enough in the country, they sent no 
cattle. Upon this Sir George Summers w^as de- 
spatched to Bermuda to bring over live hogs from 
thence, for he had found plenty of them in that 
island wdien he was cast away upon it. The 
governor also employed some of the men in fish- 



294 DISCOYERTES IN THU 

ing ; but the nets and tackle were so bad that they 
had no success. He endeavoured to enter into an 
arrangement with Powhatan and others of the 
Indian chiefs, in order to purchase meat of them 
for English goods ; and in some of these negotia- 
tions he succeeded, particularly with the king of 
Patomack, one of the most powerful of the Indian 
chiefs. But though Powhatan had already pro- 
mised to acknowledge the King of England as his 
sovereign, and had on that account received pre- 
sents of considerable value, he was so exasperated 
at the English, that he would return no other 
answer than that he desired them to depart the 
country, or confine themselves within the limits 
of James's town island, and not to continue ranging 
through his dominions, with a view, as he supposed, 
of subduing them. He even threatened to give 
orders for their being cut off if ever they went 
beyond their limits. He also commanded the 
messengers sent by his lordship not to see his face 
again, unless they brought him a coach and six 
horses ; for he had been informed by some Indians 
who had been in England, that all persons of dis- 
tinction rode in such vehicles. 

The Lord Delawar, exasperated at this answer, 
had an Indian taken prisoner, whose right hand he 
caused to be cut off, and in this condition sent hini 
to Powhatan, with orders to tell him that he would 
send him all his subjects in that manner, and burn 
all the corn in the country which was then ripe, if 
he did not for the future forbear from all acts of 
hostility. Tliis instance of barbarity had its effect, 



WESTERN WORLD. 295 

and the colony lived for some time in peace and 
plenty, making fresh discoveries, and forming new 
alliances with the Indian princes. 

Meanwhile Sir Thomas Gates was sent to Eng- 
land to give an account of the state of the colony. 
The ship w^as freighted home with cedar, black 
walnut, and iron ore. These returns appeared so 
inconsiderable, that the company w^re in some 
doubt wdiether they should not send for the Lord 
Delawar and the colony. But Sir Thomas told 
them that, if they would send over men who knew 
how to make pitch and tar, and plant flax and 
hemp, they might furnish England with all kinds 
of naval stores : that, as the country abounded in 
mulberry-trees, they might easily set up a manu- 
factory of silk ; that the soil was exceeding fertile, 
producing corn, grass, grapes, and a variety of 
other fruits ; that European cattle and corn multi- 
plied prodigiously ; and that their colony would 
never want fish and fowl if it w^ere provided wuth 
boats, nets, and ammunition, which would enable the 
English to support themselves. 

Upon this representation the patentees resolved 
to proceed with alacrity in improving the planta- 
tion, and in this resolution they were confirraed by 
the Lord Delawar, who, having left the Hon. Mr. 
Percy as his deputy, returned to England for the 
recovery of his health. 

While the Lord Delawar was in England, his 
deputy brought about a peaceable correspondence 
with the natives, which at length advanced so f ir 
that several intermarriages took place ; and amuu^ 



296 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

these tlie Indian princess Pacabuntaj who had saved 
Captain Smith's life, espoused ]\ir. John Eolf, an 
English gentleman, whose posterity long enjoyed the 
lands which descended to them from this marriage. 
The situation of Virginia is remarkably pleasant 
and convenient, having the river Potowmac, which 
separates it from Maryland on the north-east ; the 
Atlantic ocean on the east ; the province of Caro- 
lina on the south, and the Apalachian mountains, 
which separate it from Florida, on the west. It 
lies between 36° and 39° north latitude, and be- 
tween 74° and 80° west longitude ; extending 
about two hundred and forty miles in length from 
north to south, and about four hundred and twenty 
miles in breadth, from east to west. The winter 
is dry and clear, and, though the snow falls in great 
quantities, it seldom lies above a day or ,two ; the 
frosts indeed are quick and sharp, but they seldom 
last long. Their spring is somewhat earlier than 
ours. In April they have frequent rains ; May 
and June are very pleasant months, the heat being 
greatly tempered by cooling breezes ; but July 
and August are sultry hot, the air becoming in a 
manner stagnant, which produces dreadful thunder 
and lightning ; and in September there fall pro- 
digious showers of rain, at which time the inhabi- 
tants are most sickly. It ought however to be 
observed, that in this, and in all the colonies, the 
climate daily grew better, and these thunder sea- 
sons less violent, which the inhabitants very justly 
ascribed to the clearing of the country, and cutting 
down the woods, which gave the air a free passage. 



WESTERN WOULD. 297 

The soil is generally low towards the sea-coast, 
and, for a hundred miles up the country, there is 
hardly a hill or stone to be met with, except some 
iron ore, which appears above ground, and some 
banks of a kind of petrified oyster-shells, that are 
of a prodigious thickness. However, at the water- 
falls there are stones of diflferent kinds fit for 
paving and other uses ; and, towards the hills, there 
are quarries of slate and freestone. There is 
also a sort of shining pebbles not at all inferior to 
Kerry stones, though they are generally speak- 
ing softj yet, if long exposed to the air, they are 
said to become very hard, and if polished are 
extremely beautiful. 

The bay of Chesapeake runs directly up the 
country almost due north for three hundred miles. 
At the entrance it is about twenty miles broad, or 
something more, and it continues navigable much 
beyond the coast of Virg'inia. Into the west side 
of this bay fall four great rivers, which rise in the 
Alleghany mountains, all of them running from the 
north-west to the south-east. The most southerly 
of these is James's river, which is generally about 
two miles across, and navigable at least fourscore 
miles. A little to the northward is York river ; 
and in some places these two rivers approach each 
other so near, that they are not five miles asunder. 
Further to the northward is the river Eapohanack, 
which in some places is not ten miles distant from 
York river, and each of them is as broad, or 
broader, than James's river. North of Eapohanack 
is the great river of Potowmac, which in some 



23S DISCOVERIES IN THE 

places Is not above seven miles distant from 
Kapohanack rivei', and in others upwards of fifty. 
It is navigable above two hundred miles, and in 
some places is nine miles broad, but in general 
does not exceed seven. Though the mouth of this 
last river and that of James's river are about one 
hundred miles asunder, the heads of all the four 
rivers rise in the same hills pretty near each 
other. 

There were neither horses, cows, sheep, nor hogs 
in this country before the coming of the English. 
They have a sort of elks, but they are not common, 
and plenty of deer. They have likewise hares, 
squirrels of several kinds, musk-rats, racoons, wild- 
cats, beavers, foxes, and dogs like w^olves : as for 
reptiles, they have lizards, and several kinds of 
snakes. 

They have also eagles of three or four sorts : the 
first is the grey eagle, of about the size of a kite ; 
the second, the bald eagle, so called because the 
upper part of the head and neck is covered only 
with a kind of white down ; the third is a black 
eagle, which resembles those sometimes seen in 
this country. These are very ravenous^ and do a 
great deal of mischief. They have most sorts 
of hawks, and two kinds of owls, both of which are 
very large. The white owd is very beautiful, ail 
her back and breast being as bright as silver, except 
a black spot immediately below^ the throat. They 
have wild turkeys so large that some of them w^igh 
forty pounds. Their partridges are smaller than 
ours, but are quite as good. They have also the 



WESTERN WORLD, 299 

mocldng-bircl, which is of two sorts*, the grey and 
the red. This is esteemed the finest singing-bird 
in the world ; and it receives its name from readily- 
imitating the notes of all the birds it hears. They 
have likewise the humming-bird, which is very 
small, has a long bill, and very fine feathers. They 
have all sorts of water-fowl, as wild-swans, geese, 
dncks, teal, widgeons, gulls, cormorants, herons^ 
bitterns, and curlews ; but they all differ in some 
respects from ours. 

As for fish, no country has greater abundance ; 
for in February, March, April^ and May, shoals of 
herrings much larger than ours come up into the 
rivers ; there is also plenty of cod and stingrass, 
which last is said to be peculiar to this country: it 
is so called from its having a sting in its tail, and 
is esteemed good food. In the rivers they have 
.sturgeons, trout, and green fish in great numbers, 
and also plaice, flounders, whitings, carp, pike, 
mullet, and perch. The old- wife and the sheep's- 
head, are excellent fish. Their shellfish are oys- 
ters, crabs, cockles, and shrimps. 

Of those that are not commonly eaten, they have 
in salt water, whales, dog-fish, sharks, porpoises, 
gar-fish, and sword-fish. They have also another 
species called the toad-fish, from its swelling mon- 
strously when taken out of the water ; and the 
rock-fish, some species of which are poisonous. 
The skipjack, so called from its skipping out of 
the water, is tolerably good food, as is also the 
tobacco-pipe fish, which has its name from being 
long and slender. 



300 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Few countries are better stocked with ti^ees, or 
afford a greater variety. As to timberj they have 
large oaks, cedars, firs, cypress, elm, ash, and 
walnut. They have also beech, poplar, hazel, 
&G., besides sassafras^ sarsaparilla, and many other 
sweet woods, and such as are used in dyeing. They 
have grapes of several kinds, various sorts of 
cherries, plums from the size of a damson to that 
of a pear; peaches in such abundance, that in 
some places they feed their hogs with them ; 
quinces, and great quantities of apples and pears. 

All sorts of English corn thrive well, and also 
maize or Indian corn, which grows in a great ear 
as big as the handle of a large horse-whip, having 
from three hundred to seven hundred grains in one 
ear ; and sometimes one grain produces two or 
three such ears. It is of different colours, white, 
yellow, red, blue, green, and black, and some 
speckled and striped; but the white and yellow are 
most common. The stalk is as thick as an ordinary 
walking-cane, and grows six or eight feet high: in 
it is a sweet juice from which a syrup is sometimes 
made, and from every joint of the stalk there grow 
long leaves resembling sedge. This corn is planted 
in trenches, about five or six feet distant from each 
other ; the earth is opened four inches deep with a 
plough, and four or five grains thrown into each 
trench at about the distance of a span from each 
other, and then covered with earth. They weed the 
corn from time to time ; and, as the stalks grow 
higrh, raise the mould about them in the same 
manner as the hillocks in a hop-garden. They 



WESTERN WOELD. 301 

begin to plant in April, but the chief plantation 
is in May, and they continue planting till the mid- 
dle of Jane : what is planted in April is reaped 
in August; that planted in May is reaped in 
September, and the last in October. 

As the great produce of this country is tobacco, 
and as that of Virginia is considered the best in 
the world, we shall give a particular account of it. 
It is certain that the country produced vast quan- 
tities of this before any Europeans went thither, 
and that the use of it was taught them by the 
natives ; but the manner in which they cultivated 
it is now no longer known, since they buy what 
they consume from the English, and therefore 
we shall here give their manner of managing this 
plant when first they took to cultivating it. 

The tobacco-seeds are first sown in beds, where, 
having remained a month, the plants are in the 
first rainy weather transplanted, and the earth 
raised into little mounds about them ; when grown 
nearly a foot high, within the space of another 
month they top them, a-id prune off all the bottom 
leaves, leaving only seven or eight on the stalk, 
that they may be the better fed, after which these 
leaves in six weeks' time come to their full growth. 
The planters prune off the suckers, and clear them of 
the horn worm twice a week, which is called worming 
and suckering. This work lasts three weeks or a 
month, by which time the leaf, from being green, 
begins to turn brownish and to spot and thicken, 
which is a sign of ripening. They cat the plants 
down as fast as they ripen, heap them up, and let 



302 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

tliem lie a niglit to sweat. The next clay tli':y carry 
them to the tobacco-house, where every plant is 
hung up at a convenient distance from each other, 
for about a month or five weeks ; they take them 
down in moist weather, vrhen the leaf gives, or 
else it will crumble to dust; thev are then laid 
upon st-c!is. and covered up close in the tobacco- 
house for a week or fortnight to sweat ; and then, 
the bulk beiug opened on a wet day, the servants 
strip and sort them, the top leaves being the best 
and the bottom the worst tobacco. The last work 
is to pack them in hogsheads, or to bundle them 
up, which is also done in a wet season ; for in the 
curing of tobacco wet days are as necessary a3 
diy, as the leaf must be made pliant. 

Besides tobacco, this country also produced^ at 
the time of its discovery, flax, hemp, and cotton ; 
so that all kinds of naval stores could be procured 
in Virginia with great ease, and in vast plenty. 

As we have given a history of the settlements 
made by the London or South Virginia company, 
we now must mention the proceedings of the 
Western or Plymouth company, as they are styled 
by the writers of that period. For some years 
they were contented with trading with the natives 
of North Virginia for furs, and with fishing upon 
that coast ; but at length two ships being em- 
ployed in this fishery in the year 1614, commanded 
by Captain John Smith and Captain Thomas 
Hunt, the former went on shore, took a particular 
view of the country of Massachusets, and had 
some skirmishes Avith the natives. After which 



WESTERN WOKLD. 303 

he ordered Hunt to dispose of his fish in Spain, 
and then return to England ; but Hunt^ basely 
purposing to make a market of the natives, as 
well as of their fish, treacherously enticed twenty- 
seven of the Indians on board his ship, and then, 
setting sail with them to Malaga, sold them to 
the Spaniards for slaves, at the rate of twenty 
pounds a man, keeping only an Indian called 
Squanto, who was afterwards of great service to 
the English. 

This outrage was so resented by the Indians, 
that for the present all commerce w^ith them 
became impracticable ; and though Captain Dor- 
mer w^as sent to New England, in the year 1619, 
with Squanto as his interpreter, in order to con- 
clude a peace wdth the natives, and to settle a 
colony near Massachusets bay, the Indians refused to 
be recoQciled ; they attacked the English, wounded 
Dormer, upon which he left Squanto on shore, and 
proceeded to Virginia. 

The patentees at last were so affected by these 
discouragements as to give up all thoughts of 
making a settlement. Still, other adventurers 
carried on a trade to New England, and turned 
it to a very good account ; and it is probable that 
this trade might have been carried on for several 
years in the same m.anner, without any tliouglit of 
planting, had it not been for a congregation of 
Brownists, or Independents, who, being persecuted 
in England, had retired to Holland. These reli- 
gionists formed themselves into a society, under 
Mr. John Robinson, their minister^ and soon after 



304 BTSCOYEBIES IX THE 

projected the design of seeking an establishment 
in the new world. To effect this, they obtained, 
by means of Sir Eobert INanton, the consent of 
King James I. for settling in America ; and after- 
wards, by means of their agents in England, con- 
tracted with some merchants for a settlement on 
the bank of Hudson's river. 

These merchants were proprietors of the country, 
and agreed to a contract which bore hard upon those 
who were to be the first settlers. Mr. Kobinson's 
congregation, however, sold their estates, and 
made a common bank for a fund to carry on their 
undertaking. They then hired a ship of one 
hundred and eighty tons, which they freighted 
with proper goods and merchandise , and the whole 
company, consisting of about one hundred and 
twenty persons, having come to England, em- 
barked on board this vessel at Southampton. 

This ship sailed from Plymouth on the 6th of 
September, 1621, and fell in with Cape Cod on 
the 9th of November — a very improper time of the 
jTar for beginning to build and plant. Here they 
refreshed themselves for about half a day, and 
then tacked about to the southward for Hudson's 
river ; but Jones, the master of the ship, having 
been bribed by the Dutch, who Intended to take 
possession of these parts themselves, as they did 
some time after, instead of putting out to sea, 
entangled them among dangerous shoals and 
breakers, when, meeting with a storm, the ship was 
driven back again to the Cape, where they put into 
the harbour, and resolved to attempt a settlement. 




THE STOBM OFF CAPE COD, 



yage 304. 



WESTEEN WORLD. 305 

As Cape Cod was not within the limits of the 
land for which they had obtained a grant, they 
associated themselves into a body politic by a for- 
mal instrument, wherein, having declared them- 
selves the subjects of the crown of England, they 
solemnly engaged submission to the laws that 
should from time to time be made for the good 
of the country. 

Having chosen a very commodious place for build- 
ing a town, with a most agreeable country about it, 
these Pilgrim Fathers resolved not to trouble their 
friends about obtaining any further licence, but to 
risk their fortunes where Providence had cast them ; 
and in consequence of this resolution they went hard 
to work in building a town in 42° north latitude, 
which they named Plymouth. The planters w^ho 
agreed to stay in this place were about one hundred, 
including women and children, and of these there 
were only nineteen families. But such were the 
fatigues endured by this infant colony during the 
first winter, that fifty persons out of the hundred 
died within the space of two months, and had the 
Indians attacked them they would probably all 
have perished. 

As it was, however, they saw none of the natives 
till the middle of March, when Samoset, one of 
tlieir sagamores or captains, came to them in a 
friendly manner, welcomed them to the country, 
and told them that his people would be glad to 
trade with them. The next day he came to them 
again with other Indians, and informed the English 
that Massassoiet, their great sachem, had his resi- 



306 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

dence three days' march to the northward, and 
intended to pay them a visit. Accordingly, on the 
22nd of March, Massassoiet arrived with a retinue 
of sixty people, and, being received by Captain 
Standish at the head of a file of musketeers, was 
conducted to a kind of throne prepared in one of 
the houses. He was of a large stature, was middle- 
aged, had a grave countenance, and was rather silent. 
His face was painted red, and both his head and 
face were smeared over with oil. He had on a 
deer-skin mantle ; his breeches and stockings, 
which were of a piece, were of the same material, 
and his arms were covered with wild-cats' skins. 
His knife hung by a string at his breast, and his 
tobacco-pouch behind. His principal attendants 
were dressed in the same garb, and there appeared 
no marks of distinction between this prince and his 
subjects, unless it were a chain of fish-bones which 
Massassoiet wore about his neck. The chief had 
not been long seated when Mr. Carver, the gover- 
nor, came in with a guard of musketeers, whereupon 
Massassoiet rose up and kissed him, after which 
they both sat down, and an entertainment was 
provided by the English, of which no part appeared 
more acceptable than the brandy, the sachem him- 
self drinking very plentifully of it. 

In Massassoiet's retinue was Squanto, who had 
been carried to England by Hunt, and brought 
back again into the country. This Indian had, it 
seems, a very great affection for the English, among 
whom he had lived several years ; and, from his 
favourable representation of the colony, the sachem 



WESTERN WORLD. 307 

was induced to make them this friendly visit. At 
this first meeting he entered into an alliance 
offensive and defensive with the English, acknow- 
ledged King James for his sovereign, and, as an 
evidence of his sincerity, granted part of his country 
to the planters and their heirs for ever ; for, as he 
had been informed by Squanto of the great power 
of the English both by sea and land, he promised 
himself their assistance against his enemies, the 
Naraganset Indians, while the English stood in no 
less need of his friendship to establish themselves 
in the country. This alliance being therefore 
founded upon the mutual interests of the contract- 
ing parties, was inviolably maintained for many 
years. 

As soon as the treaty was concluded, Massassoiet 
returned to his capital, leaving Squanto with the 
colony, who was extremely serviceable to them, not 
only as an interpreter, but in instructing them 
how to plant and manage their Indian corn, in 
piloting them along the coast, and supplying them 
with fish, fowl, and venison. The English still 
remained sickly, and several of them died, among 
whom was Mr. Carver, their governor, and the sea- 
men were so ill that they were not in a condition 
to set sail till May, when the ship returned to 
England, to give their friends an account of the 
situation of the colony. 

When the ship was gone to England, the colony 
made choice of Mr. Bradford for their governor, 
who enjoyed that post for many years, and saw the 
plantation thoroughly established, though in his 



308 BISCOVERIES IN THE 

time there arose great feuds and jealousies on 
account of differences about religion. 

The colony remained without a charter till the 
year 1624, when they sent a person to England, 
who procured one that enabled them to elect a 
governor, council, and magistrates, and to make 
laws, provided they were not contrary to those of 
Englandj or encroached on the prerogatives of the 
crown. Thus this colony became firmly established 
without any assistance from the North Virginia 
company. 

We are now to speak of another similar colony 
which, though later in point of time, became in every 
respect the most considerable ; for, in the year 1625, 
Mr. White, minister of Dorchester, observing the 
success of the Plymouth colony, projected a new 
settlement in Massachusets' bay, and while some of 
his friends went over to make choice of a proper 
settlement, he procured a grant from the North Vir- 
ginia or N^w England company, for himself and his 
friends, of all that part of New England that lies 
between the great river Merimack and Charles river, 
at the bottom of Massachusets' bay, and of all the 
lands, &c., three miles north of Merimack river, and 
three miles south of Charles river, and in length 
between these rivers from the Atlantic Ocean to 
the South Sea. 

This new colony, which settled the town called 
Salem, was supported with the same spirit and 
vigour as the former, and soon after obtained a 
patent from-King Charles I., under w^hich they were 
incorporated by the name of the Governor and 



WESTERN WORLD. 309 

Company of the Massacliusets' bay in New England, 
and were empowered to make laws for the good of 
the plantation not repugnant to those of England. 
Liberty of conscience beiug granted to all w4io 
would settle there, great numbers went over, and in 
a little time two new settlements were made, the one 
styled Cliarlestown, on the north side of Charles 
river, and the other, Dorchester, at the bottom of 
Massachusets' bay. Soon after, part of the inhabi- 
tants of Charlestown having passed over to the 
opposite shore, erected Boston, which is now the 
capital of New England. 

As new planters arrived every year, this colony 
soon became overstocked; and, in consequence of 
divisions which broke out among them, Mr. Eoger 
Williams, pastor of a church of Brownists, settled 
without this government, and called his plantation 
Providence, which w^as afterwards united to the 
government; of Ehode island. 

At length the Pequen Indians beginning to grow 
very troublesome, it was considered that a town 
and fort on Connecticut river would make a good 
frontier on that side. Agents were therefore sent 
to view the country, and they made such an ad- 
vantageous report of the fertility of the soil, and 
the largeness of the river, as induced many of the 
planters in several of the towns to entertain 
thoughts of removing thither, as they were already 
straitened for room where they were. 

Upon this, Mr. Hooper, minister of Newtown, 
put himself at the head of about one hundred of 
these new adventurers, who set out in the month of 



310 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

July, and traTelHngon foot, with their children and 
baggage, about nine or ten miles a day, arrived at 
the banks of the river, where they began a town 
which they called Hartford. After these came 
another draught, who built a little town which 
they called Windsor; a third detachment built 
Weathersfield ; and a fourth Springfield. 

The towns thus built were from fifty to sixty miles 
np the river, and. a ship freighted with provisions 
for these planters at the Massachusets' colony, 
came so late in the year that its mouth was quite 
frozen up, upon which many of the new adven- 
turers travelled back in the depth of winter, while 
others who attempted it were frozen to death. How- 
ever, those who had courage to stay till the spring, 
carried on their settlements with such success, 
that they were not only in a state to continue them, 
but to make head against their enemies. They had 
a sort of commission from the government of the 
Massachusets' bay ; but, finding they had extended 
their plantations beyond the limits of that colony, 
they entered into a voluntary association to obey 
the laws that should be made by proper persons 
for the common good, and then chose a governor. 

In this situation the colony of Connecticut con- 
tinued till they obtained a charter from King 
Charles II., authorizing them to elect their own 
governor, council, and magistrates, to form a 
political constitution like that of England, and to 
enact such laws as should be thought most advan- 
tageous to the colony, provided they were not at 
variance with the laws of the mother country. 



WESTERN TVORLD. 311 

As great numbers of people were still removing 
to New England, and the old colonies were over- 
stocked, there was an absolute necessity for form- 
ing new plantations. In 1637, Mr. Theophilus 
Eaton, and the Eeverend Mr. Davenport, find- 
ing there was not room at Massachusets' bay, and 
having been informed of a larger bay to the south- 
west of Connecticut river, purchased of the natives 
all the land between that river and New York, or 
Hudson's river. Thither they removed, and having 
seated themselves in the bay, over against Long 
island, built Newhaven, whence that colony was so 
denominated. They also built Guildford, Stam- 
ford, Milford, and Brainford; then, going over 
to Long island, they formed several settlements 
there, and erected churches in all places where they 
settled. But, being without the limits of the 
Massachusets' jurisdiction, they had no charter, and 
no other title to the lands than what they pur- 
chased from the natives. The men who settled in 
this country were generally London merchants, who 
first applied themselves to trade, in which they 
followed the example of their governor, Mr. Eaton ; 
but they met with so many losses and discourage- 
ments, that they resolved to remove to Maryland 
or to Ireland ; but at last, having applied them- 
selves to husbandry, they had surprising success, 
and laid aside all thoughts of removing. 

While the south-west parts of New England 
were thus being filled with inhabitants, the north- 
east were not neglected ; for, as the English fre- 
quented the coast for fishing and the fur trade, 



312 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

some of them attempted a settlement between the 
rivers Merimack and Sagadahock, which succeeded 
so well that in a few years two counties were laid 
out. New Hampshire and Maine, and several towns 
built, as Dover, Hampton, Wells, Kittery, &c. 
These planters and traders having also settled 
without the limits of the Massachusets' colony, 
voluntarily formed themselves into a body politic, 
after the example of the Connecticut colony. Thus 
they continued till, wearied out with feuds and 
divisions, they petitioned the general court of the 
Massachusets' colony that they might be brought 
within their jurisdiction: in 1684, they made an 
absolute resignation of their charter. 

In short, in the space of about twenty years New 
England had above forty towns, and the people 
were in a happy and thriving condition. 

The country of New England comprehended at 
this time four considerable colonies or governments 
— the Massachusets^ which, with New Plymouth 
and the Maine, were included in one charter; New 
Hampshire, which remained a separate govern- 
ment ; Connecticut, comprehending Newhaven , 
and Rhode island, with Providence plantation. 
The whole country extended from 41"^ to 45^ north 
latitude, and between 67^ and TS"* of west lon- 
gitude, bounded on the north-west by Canada ; on 
the north-east bv Nova Scotia ; on east and 
south by the Atlantic Ocean ; and on the west 
by New York. In length it was somewhat more 
than three hundred miles, and in some places 
nearly two hundred in breadth. The air is sharper 



WESTERN WORLD, 313 

than ours, and the winter more severe^ though it 
lies so much farther to the south ; but then the 
summer is warmer. Their longest day at Boston 
is about fifteen hours, and their shortest about nine. 
The land next the sea is generally low, and in 
gome places marshy ; but farther up it rises into 
hillSj and along the north-east the country is rocky 
and mountainous. 

As Kew England is on the east and south 
washed by the ocean, it has many good har- 
bours, some of which are able to receive large fleets. 
There are few countries better watered ; for, besides 
several small lakes and rivulets, there are no less 
than seven navigable rivers ; the most westerly of 
these is the Connecticut, which, rising in the 
north of New England, runs almost directly south 
till it falls into the sea. The course of this river 
is at least two hundred miles, and it is navigable 
to a great height. At its mouth are two large 
towns, Saybrooke and Lime. To the east of this 
river lies the Thames, which is less considerable ; 
it also runs south, and falls into the sea a little 
below New London. The river Patuxet rises in the 
north-west of the Massachusets' colony, and, running 
south-east, falls into a noble bay near Swansea: 
the river Merimack rises in the north, and runs 
directly south for nearly one hundred miles, and 
then turning east, falls into the sea between Salis- 
bury and Newberry. The river Piscataway runs 
from west to east, and falls into the sea at Ports- 
mouth, where the opening is so large that it affords 
a port capable of receiving the largest ships : the 



314 DTSCOYEEIES IN THE 

river Saco rises in the north of New England, and 
running south, falls into the sea between the capes 
Porpoise and Elizabeth ; and the river Casco luns 
parallel with it till it falls into a bay of its own 
name. 

It was owing to the convenience of so many fine 
rivers that this country became so full of large and 
populous towns : in the country between the rivers 
there is such an abundance of springs, that there 
is scarcely any place where water may not be had 
by sinking a well to the depth of ten feet. 

New England abounds with four-footed animals 
both tame and wild : among the former are 
cows, sheep, hogs, and horses, which, though they 
were all originally brought from England, are very 
numerous ; the latter are, however, of a smaller 
breed than ours, but they are extremely service- 
able, and travel at a great rate. 

As for beasts of the forest, they have most sorts^ 
as deer, elks, racoons, bears, and a sort of wolves, 
which were used by the natives for dogs, and, when 
taken very young, may be made tame. They have 
here also hares, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, beavers, 
martins, and opossums, which last are of the size 
of a fox, and as grey as a badger; they are re- 
markable for having a false belly, wherein they 
hide their young, and from which they may be 
taken without any injury either to themselves or to 
the animal itself 

But the most extraordinary beast is the moose- 
deer, somewhat like an elk, which up to that time 
had not been found in any other country except 



^ WESTERN WORLD. 315 

Nortli America, tliougli it is one of the noblest 
beasts of the forest. There are two sorts, the com- 
mon grey moose, that are more like the ordinary 
deer, and sometimes herd thirty in a company; and 
the large black moose, which is made much like 
the deer, as it parts the hoof, chews the cud, and 
has large and erect ears. The hair upon the ridge 
of his back, which is of a dark grey, is ten or 
twelve inches long, and he has a short tail. A stag 
moose is sometimes fourteen spans in height from 
the withers, reckoning nine inches to the span, that 
is ten feet and a half. The horns of the moose, 
when full grown, are about four or five feet from 
the head to the tip, and have shoots or branches to 
each horn, which generally spread about six feet. 
When the horns come out of the head they are 
round like those of an ox, but about the distance 
of a foot begin to grow broad, and farther up are 
still wider, and of these the Indians make ladles 
that will hold a pint 

When a moose goes through a thicket, or under 
the boughs of a tree, he lays his horns back on 
his neck, not only to place them out of his way, 
but to secure himself from being scratched in the 
woods ; these prodigious horns are shed every year. 
This animal does not spring or rise in going, like 
a deer ; but a large one, in his common walk, has 
been seen to step over a gate five feet high ! When 
a moose is unharboured, he will run a course of 
twenty or thirty miles before he turns about or 
comes to bay : when they are chased they generally 
take to the water. He is, however, not so swift as 



316 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

the common deer, though he runs much further. 
As the moose is tall and has a short neck, it does 
not graze like other cattle ; for when they eat grass, 
it is only the top of that which grows very high or 
on steep rising grounds. They are fond of water 
plants, for which they will wade far and deep. In 
summer they feed upon other herbs and young 
shrubs, and in winter live upon the tops of bushes 
and young trees. The flesh of the moose is very 
good food: it is more substantial than common 
venison, and will bear salting. The nose is admired 
as a great dainty. 

There is hardly any where greater abundance of 
fowls, as turkeys, geese, partridges, ducks, widgeons 
swans, heathcocks, herons, storks, blackbirds, all 
sorts of barn-door fowl; also cormorants, ravens, 
&c., and vast flights of pigeons come and go at 
certain seasons of the year. 

The sea and rivers afford excellent fish in vast 
abundance, such as sturgeon, salmon, cod, thorn- 
back, mackerel, herrings, smelts, lampreys, whales, 
grampuses, porpoises, seals, sharks, and others, 
great and small. The best months for fishing are 
March, April, May, and June. 

The woods and swamps afford plenty of good 
timber, oak, elm, fir, cypress, fine chestnut, walnut, 
cedar, ash, beech, aspin, and sassafras. All sorts 
of garden and orchard trees grow in perfection, so 
that a planter could make one hundred hogsheads 
of cider in a season ; and the export of apples 
to the sugar islands formed one of the constant 
articles in the trade of this province. These apples 



T7ESTERX WORLD. 317 

are said to be larger and sweeter than ours in Eng- 
land, and the same applies to their plums, cherries, 
peaches, pears, &c. There are also pompions and 
onions, water-melons and squashes. All sorts of 
roots for the table are here in great abundance, as 
turnips, carrots, parsnips, and radishes, which are 
much larger and richer than in England, though 
their seeds originally came hence. Flax and hemp 
grow as naturally here as in any country on the 
Baltic, and in as great perfection. Oats, barley, 
peas, beans, and indeed every thing of this kind, 
succeed as well as can be wished, and particularly 
maize, of which they plant, great quantities. This 
latter corn and kidney-beans were found among 
the natives, and the Indians had a tradition that 
the first grain of corn was brought thither by a 
blackbird, and the first bean by a crow. 

The next colony of which we shall give a short 
account is one which, though it could not be called 
the most profitable, yet must be allowed to have 
been one of the most pleasant of the English 
plantations in America. 

The Bermuda islands were discovered by John 
Bermudas, a Spaniard, after which they were 
frequently touched at by his countrymen in their 
passage to the West Indies, but they were un- 
known to us before the year 1593, when one Henry 
May was shipwrecked upon them in a French 
vessel. They afterwards became much more famous 
by Sir George Summers and Sir Thomas Gates suf- 
fering there the like misfortune in their passage to 
Virginia in 1609, of which we have before given 



318 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

an account ; as we have also of Sir George 
being sent thither a second time to fetch hogs, 
when he died upon the island at above sixty- 
years of age. But though Sir George directed his 
men to return to Virginia with black hogs for the 
relief of that colony, after they had stored their 
ship with provisions they set sail for England, and 
arrived at Whitchurch in Dorsetshire, with his 
corpse on board, having left only his heart and 
bowels at Bermudas, where twelve years after 
Captain Butler built a handsome monument over 
them. 

These men gave such an account of the country 
to the Virginia company, that one hundred and 
twenty persons of that society obtained a charter 
from King James, and became the proprietors of 
these islands, the name of which was changed to 
Summers' islands ; but by our mariners they are 
called tlie Summer islands, a name they well 
deserve from their pleasantness and fertility. 

When Sir George Summers first left these 
islands, two of his men who had committed some 
crime, for which they would have been put to 
death, stayed behind, and were found there at his 
return. They lived in St. George's island, where 
they supported themselves on the produce of the 
place, and built a hut. These two men, whose 
names were Christopher Carter and Edward 
Waters, also stayed behind when Sir George's 
second company departed, and they even persuaded 
Edward Chard to remain with them; so that 
Carter, Waters, and Chard were the sole lords of 



TTESTEEN WORLD. 319 

the coantry ; but they soon fell out among them- 
selves. Chard and Waters were going to fight, but 
Carter, though he hated them both, not liking to be 
alone, prevented it by threatening to turn against 
the man who should strike the first blow. Thus 
necessity made them good friends, and they joined 
together in prosecuting discoveries. In one of their 
expeditions they found among the rocks a large 
piece of ambergris that weighed eighty pounds, 
besides other smaller pieces. This treasure made 
them almost mad ; they ran wild at the thoughts of 
it, and that they might have an opportunity of 
making use of it, they resolved upon the most des- 
perate attempt that men could entertain ; which 
was, to build a boat after the best manner they 
could, and sail to Virginia or Newfoundland, just 
as the wind chanced to blow. However, before they 
could put their mad project into execution, they 
were prevented by the arrival of a ship from Eng- 
land ; for Captain Matthew Summers, Sir George's 
brother, had promised to come to them, or send a 
vessel to their relief This ship was the Plough, 
with sixty persons on board, sent by the New 
Bermudas company to make a settlement, of which 
Mr. Moore was to be governor. Moore pitched 
upon a plain in St. George's island, where he built 
a cabin of palmetto-leaves large enough for his 
wife and family ; and the rest of the adventurers 
following his example, the settlement grew in time 
into a town of considerable size. This was after- 
wards St. George's town^ one of the strongest and 
best built in our American colonies ; for all the 



320 DISCOVEPwIES IN THE 

houses were of cedar, and all the forts of hewn 
stone. Moore proved an excellent governor; and 
in the year 1614 disappointed the Spaniards in a 
design which they had formed of conquering these 
islands. 

Moore was succeeded as governor by Captain 
Daniel Tucker, who, having a better education and 
more experience, established a regular form of 
government, traced out plantations, and obliged 
every man to build uniformly in the town, and to 
plant regularly in the country ; by which means 
the islands were much improved, and the exports 
to England increased. He also established a 
tolerable militia, and placed the islands in such a 
posture of defence that it was out of the power of 
any of their enemies to do them harm. 

The severity of Captain Tucker's government 
gave such disgust to some licentious persons, that 
five of them executed as desperate a design to 
escape as Waters and his companions had proposed 
some time before. They knew the governor 
would not give them leave to go ; and therefore, 
hearing that he had a great desire to go out sea- 
fishing, but was afraid of doing so because 
several fishing-boats had been swamped, they pro- 
posed to build a boat of two or three tons with a 
deck, and so fitted that she should be able to live in 
all weathers. The governor consented to this, and 
they began to build in a retired spot, under pre- 
tence of its being convenient for getting timber 
and launching the boat. These persons were 
James Barker, a gentleman; Eichard Saunders, 



WESTERN WORLD. 321 

\vho contrived the design; William Goodwin, a 
ship's carpenter, who undertook to build the boat, 
and Henry Puet, a common sailor, who promised 
to navigate it. 

They finished the boat sooner than was expected, 
and the governor sent for it in order that he might 
go on board a ship that was ready to sail for Eng- 
land. The men, however, on coming to the place, 
could neither find the boat nor the builders, and 
all that they could hear of them was, that the boat 
being finished the night before, those who built it 
went off to sea, in order to try how it would sail ; 
but at last they found, by some letters they had 
left behind them, that they had set out for Eng- 
land. 

On some pretence or other they had borrowed a 
compass of a neighbour ; and then, having gone 
on board the ship bound for England, they ex- 
changed such things as they could spare for pro- 
visions, and one of them at parting told the mariners 
that, though they were forbidden to go with them, 
they yet hoped to be in England before them. The 
master of the ship laughed ; but away these fearless 
adventurers sailed, with fair wind and weather, that 
lasted for twenty-one days. They then met wdth a 
storm which lasted forty-eight hours, and drove 
them a little out of their course to the w^estward ; 
but the wind coming fair again, and continuing so 
ten days, all went on cheerfully. They met w^ith 
a French privateer, and went on board to beg some 
assistance ; but, instead of assistance, the French 
plundered them of the little they had. Tliey took 

Y 



322 BISCOYERIES IN THE 

away even their compass, and then cruelly turned 
them adrift. In this miserable condition they 
sailed on, becoming every day weaker and weaker. 
Their provisions were almost spent, their fire-wood 
quite gone, not a drop of fresh water left, nor food 
for above a day^ when at last, in the very hour 
when they expected to perish, to their unspeakable 
joy they made land, which proved to be Ireland. 
They went on shore in the county of Cork, where 
they were nobly entertained by the Earl of Tho- 
mond, to whom they related the full particulars of 
their voyage, which had lasted forty-two days. 

But to proceed. In the year 1619, Captain 
Tucker resigned the government to Captain Butler, 
who arrived with four good ships, in which he 
brought five hundred settlers, and, as there were as 
many English before on the island, the colony now 
began to make a considerable figure. Butler 
divided the islands into districts ; and now the 
government, by a governor, council, and assembly, 
was established, for before it consisted only of the 
governor and council ; the laws of the country 
were also settled as much like those of England as 
the circumstance of the place would admit. 

These islands lie in 32° 30^ north latitude, and 
in 35° west longitude, at a vast distance from the 
continent; the nearest land, which is Cape Hat- 
taras in Carolina, lies at least two hundred and 
fifty leagues to the west of them, and they are 
above one thousand six hundred leagues from Eng- 
land. They lie very contiguous to each other, in 
the form of a shepherd's crook ; but authors differ 



WESTERN WORLD. 323 

greatly as to their number, some asserting there 
are but three hundred of them, while others affirm 
that there are more than five hundred. However, 
scarce an eighth part of them at this time were 
inhabited ; and all but St. George*s, St. David's, and 
Cooper's isles had only a few houses scattered up 
and down. None of them are of any considerable 
size ; the greatest island, which is St. George's, is 
only about sixteen miles in length, and not a league 
across in the broadest place. But it is fortified 
by nature all round with rocks which extend a 
great way into the sea. To its natural strength, 
especially to the eastward, where it is most exposed, 
the inhabitants added forts, batteries, parapets, and 
lines, so well disposed that they could command 
the several channels and inlets into the sea. There 
are not more than two places where shipping can 
safely enter, and the rocks lie so thick, that without 
a good pilot a vessel often tons could not find the 
way into these harbours ; but, when once known, 
the biggest ships in the world may enter. They 
are, however^ so well fortified, that if an enemy 
should attempt either of them he might be easily 
kept out. Indeed all these islands are so environed 
with rocks, that they seem to threaten any ships 
that venture on their coast with present destruction; 
and so many have been wrecked upon them that 
the Spaniards gave them the name of Los Diabolos, 
or the Devil's islands. 

The air of these islands has been always thought 
extremely salubrious, and the appearance of every 
thing very delightful, whence people have been 



324 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

accustomed to remove tliither from the other colo- 
nies in order to recover a broken constitution. 
The heat in summer is very supportable, and with 
respect to winter they have really none ; some even 
go so far as to affirm that there is but one season, 
and that a perpetual spring, in which the trees 
never lose their verdure ; for though the leaves at 
one time of the year fall oif, others bud out at the 
same time. But, notwithstanding the fineness of 
the climate, they are very subject to storms of 
thunder and lightning. 

All the plants found in the West Indies grow 
there, and all kinds of trees, herbs, roots, and flowers, 
brought from Europe, thrive to perfection. Maize, 
or Indian corn, which is the principal support of 
the people, is twice reaped; for what they sow in 
March they reap in July; in a fortnight after they 
sow again, and reap in December. Laurel, olive, 
mulberry, and date trees are very common, as are also 
palmettos, which are a kind of palm-tree, and are 
extremely useful; for the leaves being eight or ten 
feet long, and nearly as broad, they cover their 
houses with them instead of thatch or tiles. These 
trees produce a very luscious fruit, in shape, size, 
and colour resembling a damson. The forests also 
abound with a variety of odoriferous woods, some 
black, some yellow, and some red. The berries of 
these trees have the styptic qualities of a sloe, and 
are much used to cure dysentery, which the English 
frequently get by eating the luscious palm-berries 
too greedily. 

Amongst a multitude of shrubs and trees to be 



WESTERN" WORLD. 325 

seen in these islands, and equally valuable for their 
timber and fiuit, there are two which^ though 
found in other parts of the world, have a peculiar 
excellence here ; the first is their orange-tree^ whose 
fruit, in point of size, scent, and flavour, far exceeds 
those both in the West and East Indies; the second 
is the cedar, which is firmer and more durable than 
any of its kind with which we are acquainted, and 
answers in every respect to oak timber. It is 
therefore used in ship-building; and the best sloops, 
brigantines, and other small vessels, both for ser- 
vice and sailing in use throughout the West Indies, 
are built at the Bermudas, They have also a very 
singular plant called the Summer island redwood, 
the berry of which is as red as the prickle-pear, 
and also gives the same kind of tincture ; out of 
this berry come first worms, these afterwards turn 
into flies something bigger than the cochineal fly, 
and having a medicinal virtue much exceeding it. 
They have also a plant called the poison weed, that 
grows much in the same manner as our ivy ; but this 
is the only noxious thing in any of the islands. 

As for animals, there were none in the Bermudas 
but hogs, insects, and birds when Sir George 
Summers was shipwrecked there ; these hogs he 
found by sending out two or three of his own to feed, 
and, when these came rambling home, a huge wild- 
boar followed them, which when killed was found ex- 
cellent meat. The hogs they killed afterwards were 
all black, whence it is concluded that the Spaniards 
left them there to breed, because they were of the 



326 DISCOYEBIES IN THE 

same kind as those they carried to the continent 
of America. 

These islands abound in fowl, which are in 
greater variety than is to be found in any part 
of America. There are swans^ moor-hens, teal, 
snipes, ducks, widgeons, herons, bitterns, ospreys, 
bald-coots, cormorants, and hawks of all sorts ; bats 
and owls are also very common, and there are 
multitudes of small birds, as woodpeckers, spar- 
rows, &c. The English at their first coming 
found a sort of fowl called cowkoes, that breed in 
the holes of the rocks and in burrows like rabbits. 
They were extremely numerous, and so gentle that 
they were taken by hand ; but they are now almost 
destroyed. This bird is of the size of a seamew. 
There is also the tropic bird and the pemHco. 

They have as much fish as fowl, and of so many 
sorts that authors have not yet found out names 
for them ; the turtle are as good and as large as 
any in the world. 

The beauty of the country, and the amiable 
character of the inhabitants, induced the learned 
Dean Berkeley to endeavour to found a college at 
the Bermudas, for promoting useful learning and 
true religion in the West Indies. _ The Society for 
the Propagation of the Gospel assisted him in pro- 
curing a patent from King George L, and con- 
tributed to the expense of the undertaking. Dr. 
Berkeley, and three fellows of Trinity College in 
Dublin, with several of the doctor's relations, actu- 
ally embarked in this undertaking; but were 



WESTERN WOELD. 327 

driven by a storm to Long island, in the province 
of New York, whence the doctor with his com- 
panions visited Boston, and several other great 
towns in New England, where they preached. The 
design of erecting this college was laid aside for a 
time, and they retm-ned home. 



328 DISCOVEEIES IN THE 



CHAPTER XV. 

Hudson's voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage — 
Winter on the coast of New Britain — Hardships — Extreme 
cold — Scarcity of food — Breaking np of the ice — Shameful 
behaviour of some of the crew — Sad end of Captain Hudson 
— Eate of his murderers — Button's voyac!;e ; its success — 
The settlement of Barbadoes — Sir George Ascue — Naviga- 
tion Act— Success of the first sugar colony — Introduction 
of the slave trade — Account of Barbadoes — Sir Thomas 
Warner and Monsieur Desnambue plant settlements at St 
Christopher— Success of the English colony — Spanish 
jealousies — Disasters — Departure of the Spaniards — Cultiva- 
tion of tobacco — Settlements formed at Nevis, Montserrat, 
Barbuda, Anguilla, and Antigua. 

While the discoveries related in the last chapter- 
were going on, the merchants of England again 
attempted to find a new passage to India by th i 
north-ea&t and north-west. In 1607, Mr. Henry 
Hudson undertook to sail directly north, which he 
did to the height of ST" 3(y, where he found the 
weather in July pretty warm. He proposed to 
pass round the great track of country then called 
by the Danes Greenland, afterwards to fall nto 
Davis' Straits, and then to return home; but 
being disappointed in this, he undertook two 
voyages for the discovery of a north-east passage, 
still with no better success. At last he resolved to 



WESTERN WORLD. 329 

make an attempt towards the north-west, and set 
sail on this voyage in April, 1610. Proceeding to 
the mouth of Davis' Straits, he steered directly 
west, and afterwards sailed through those straits 
that now bear his name, doubled Cape Wor- 
senham, and after this sailed down the west coast 
of New Britain, to the very bottom of the bay, 
where he made choice of a place to winter in, 
almost as far south as any part of Great Britain, 
in the hope of performing something considerable 
the next spring. However, the hardships the men 
endured while they wintered in this place were ex- 
ceedingly great, the cold was so extreme that it 
lamed most of the company. 

Daring the first thi'ee months they saw large 
flights of w^hite partridges, and killed above one 
hundred dozen, besides other fowls. At the ap- 
proach of spring, the partridges left, and were 
succeeded by swans, geese, ducks, and teal ; but 
these were hard to catch. They flew from the 
south to the north, and, whenever a northerly wdnd 
arose, stayed till the wind served them. 

At the approach of summer the fowls disap- 
peared, and the men were obliged by hunger to 
search the woods, hills, and valleys^ for any thing 
that might serve for food. The frogs even in their 
spawning-time, when they were as loathsome as 
toads, were not spared; they also fed on the 
moss that grew on the ground. As soon as the 
ice began to break, one of the natives came to the 
ship and sold them some furs and skins for knives 
and hatchets ; and when the sound began to be 



3.30 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

clear of the ice, so that the boat could move from 
place to place, several of the men were seat to 
catch fish, in which they had but indifferent 
success, not taking enough to supply the wants of 
the ship's company. At length some of the men, 
who had resolved to get the little provisions that 
were left to themselves, barbarously contrived to 
turn Captain Hudson, the carpenter, and all the 
sick men, out of the ship, and to make the best 
of their w^ay to England. This they performed by 
forcing Captain Hudson and eight more into the 
shallop without provisions, though most of them 
were taken sick out of bed, and after this they 
were never heard of more. The leaders of this 
mutiny, however, did not escape much better; 
for being obliged to land frequently on the desert 
coast to obtain subsistence, most of them were 
killed by the natives, and the few who survived 
to return to England were in a most miserable 
condition. 

Upon the imperfect account of Hudson's Bay, 
received from Pricket, one of these men, several 
persons, who had already been engaged in expedi- 
tions for the discovery of the north-west passage, 
began to hope that they had now a fairer prospect 
than ever of success. They therefore applied to 
Henry, Prince of Wales, son of James L, who 
was tlpien the great patron of learning, and his 
royal highness resolved to send out one Captain 
Button, his own servant, and a man of great ability, 
courage, and experience. Accordingly, in the 
year 1611 Button sailed on this expedition ; passed 



WESTERN WOELB. 331 

Hudsop/s straits, and then leaving Hudson's bay 
to the south, proceeded above two hundred leagues 
to the north-west, through a sea above eighty 
fathoms deep, and discovered a great continent 
which he called New Wales. He wintered at Port 
Nelson, in bl" 10^ north latitude, but here his 
men suffered greatly from the cold, and many of 
them died, though he kept three fires in the ship 
all the winter, and had plenty of food, white par- 
tridges and other fowl, besides deer, bears, and 
foxes. The next summer he carefully searched all 
the bay, from him since called Button's bay, baciv 
almost to Bigg's island, and discovered the great 
island called Gary's Swan's Nest. 

Upon his return from this voyage he received 
the honour of knighthood, and great expectations 
were raised from his discoveries, which would cer- 
tainly have been farther prosecuted if Prince 
Henry had not died soon after. 

The order of time now brings us to the settle- 
ment of Barbadoes, an island that may be esteemed 
the best peopled and best cultivated, not only in 
America, but almost in the whole known w^orld. 
It is not easy to determine by whom this small 
island was discovered ; but most probably it was 
first seen by the Portuguese. However, the first 
Englishmen who landed there are said to have been 
some of Sir William Curteen's men, who were 
cruising in those seas in the latter end of the 
reign of King James I.; and as they, on their 
return to England, reported that the soil was fruit- 
ful, some adventurers went thither in order to plaut 



332 DISCOVEKIES IN THE 

it; but as the island was covered with wood^ and 
there were scarcely any other animals upon it than 
hogs, it was a long time before it answered their 
expectation. 

In the first year of the reign of King Charles !• 
the property of this island was granted by that 
prince to James. Earl of Carlisle; of him several 
adventurers purchased shares^ and^ transporting 
themselves thither^ began planting tobacco, but 
this not succeeding, they proceeded to try cotton 
and indigo, which yielded considerable profit. 
But little sugar was made in the island till the 
year 1647, when Colonel Modiford^ Colonel Wal- 
rond, Colonel Drax, and several other cavaliers, 
not choosing to stay in England after the king's 
death, converted their estates into money^ and 
having gone over to Barbadoes^ with such ma- 
chines and implements as were proper for carrying 
on sugar-works, met such success that in a few 
years Colonel Drax is said to have acquired an 
estate worth £7000 or £8000 a year. These adven- 
turers fixed their principal settlement on the 
great bay in the south-west part of the island, 
and gave it the name of Carlisle bay, in honour of 
the proprietor. 

Afterwards the island was divided into four cir- 
cuits and eleven parishes, each parish sending two 
representatives to the general assembly; and so pro- 
digious was the increase of the inhabitants, that in 
the year 1650 they amounted to between thirty and 
forty thousand white persons, besides the negroes, 
who were much more numerous, and frequently 



WESTERN WORLD. 333 

plotted the destruction of their masters. Their plots 
were constantly discovered, and the most terrible 
punishments inflicted on the ringleaders ; however, 
the cruelties suffered by those who thus endea- 
voured to recover their liberty, did but increase 
the disaffection of the rest, and laid the foundation 
of fresh conspiracies. Notwithstanding this, no 
colony of so small an extent ever arrived, within 
the space of twenty or thirty years, to such riches 
and grandeur. The parliament thought this 
island of such consequence, that in 1651 they sent 
thither a strong* squadron of men-of-war, under 
the command of Sir George Ascue, who compelled 
Lord Willoughby, the governor, to surrender it upon 
condition that the royalists should remain in pos- 
session of their estates and liberties; they then 
appointed Mr. Searl governor. 

In the Dutch war this colony was prohibited 
from trading with the Hollanders, who till this 
time had constantly furnislied the island with 
negroes, and taught the Barbadians to plant and 
manage their sugar to the best advantage, most of 
which they took off their hands in order to supply 
themselves and the rest of Europe. They were then 
compelled by parliament to bring all their sugar 
direct to England, This step was also taken by the 
ministry after the restoration of King Charles II., 
and it was the origin of the Navigation Act, 
which required all the British colonies to bring 
their sugars and tobacco to England, and prohi- 
bited their trading w^ith foreigners in these and 
some other articles. 



334 Bisco^rEEiES ix the 

The vast success of this first sugar colony pro- 
moted the settleruent of others ; and, as the sugar 
plantations increased, more hands were required to 
carry on the work than could at that time be spared 
from home. It was this which gave birth to the 
horrible Guinea trade, for supplying these colonies 
with negro slaves. As the planters flourished 
and increased, so did their demands for all sorts of 
British manufactures, and such of the necessaries 
of life as could not be produced in that climate; 
thus new sources of trade were opened for the 
British merchants. In short, this act, by obliging 
all the sugar to be brought to Great Britain, soon 
made London the chief mart in Europe for sugar ; 
and there being annually more imported than was 
necessary for home consumption, the merchants 
exported the surplus to foreign markets, and, by 
underselling the Portuguese, they in time beat 
them out of almost all their sugar trade to the 
north of Cape Finisterre. 

King Charles II., in the year 1668, purchased 
the property of this island of the Lord Kinnoul, 
heir to the Earl of Carlisle, and appointed the 
Lord Willoughby of Parham governor. Upon 
this the colony granted a duty of four and a half 
per cent, for the support of the civil government, 
and for maintaining the forces and fortifications 
of the island, which duty is said to have amounted 
to £10,000 a year. 

The island of Barbadoes is situated in the 
Atlantic Ocean, in 13° north latitude, and 59° 
west longitude. It is of a triangular form^ and 



WESTERN WORLD. 335 

Vvdiere broadest about twenty-five miles from north 
to south, and only fifteen from east to west. It 
is, for the most part, a plain level country, with 
some small hills of an easy ascent ; and though 
it was covered with woods when tlie English first 
settled there, they have been all cut down to 
make way for plantations of sugar-canes, which 
soon took up almost the whole island, for their 
very corn, flesh, and fish, these planters for the 
most part imported from the northern colonies. 

We come next to the island of St. Christopher, 
which was called by the Indians Liamuega, and 
was discovered by Christopher Columbus in his 
first voyage to America. He gave it the name of 
St. Christopher from the figure of its mountains ; 
there being in the upper part of the island a very 
high mountain, bearing on its summit another of 
a smaller size, as St. Christopher is painted like a 
giant carrying our Saviour on his back. It is 
situated in 17° north latitude, and is about seventy- 
three miles in circumference. Sir Thomas Warner, 
an English adventurer, and Monsieur Desnambue, 
a French gentleman who had chief command of 
the French in America, arrived at St. Christopher's 
on the same day, and both took possession of the 
island in the names of their respective masters. 
It was then inhabited by the Caribbees, and the 
Spaniards used to put in there, in their West 
India voyages, to take in fresh water. They were 
.on such good terms with the Caribbees, that tliey 
sometimes left their sick there, of whom the natives 
took great care. 



336 DISCOVERIES IX TEE 

Warner and Desnambue left sonae of their men 
in tlie island, and returned to their respective 
countries for recruits. Their masters ajDproved of 
their conduct, sent them back in 1626 with sup- 
plies of men and provisions^ and with commissions 
to be governors of the new settlements. Monsieur 
Desnambue arrived there about the month of 
January, 1627, with about three hundred people, 
after a long and sickly voyao:e. The English 
colony had as many men, and Sir Thomas had 
proceeded a good way in his settlement before 
Monsieur Desnambue's arrival. The two governors 
therefore, to prevent any differences among the 
people about the limits of their respective terri- 
tories, on the 13th of May, 1627, set boundaries to 
their several divisions, with this particular proviso, 
that fishing and hunting should be equally free to 
the inhabitants of both nations; that the salt- 
ponds and most valuable timber should be in 
common, together with the mines and havens ; 
and a league offensive and defensive w^as concluded 
between them against all enemies ; after which 
for a time all w^ent on with great harmony. 

However, as the English received supplies of 
men and provisions from London, they throve 
better than the French; and not only became 
strong enough to keep what they had, but spared 
men for settling plantations at Nevis, of which 
Sir Thomas Warner took possession, and left a 
settlement there in the year 1628. 

Meanwhile the Spaniards, alarmed at the pro- 
gress of the English and French in the Caribbee 



WESTERN WORLD. C^oJ 

islands, thought the safety of their own plantations 
required that they should prevent these nations 
from settling in their neighbourhood; and therefore, 
in the following year, they sent Don Frederic de 
Toledo, with a fleet of twenty-four ships and fifteen 
Irigates, to dispossess the English and French of 
the island of St. Christopher. Don Frederic 
seized some English ships near the isle of Nevis, 
find then anchored in the road of Marigot, under 
a fort called the Basse Terre, where Monsieur 
Kossey commanded. Neither the French nor the 
English were in a condition to oppose such an 
enemy. Eossey therefore, after a small opposition,, 
abandoned the Basse Terre, and retreated to Cabes 
Terre, another fort commanded by Monsieur 
Desnambue in person ; but they could not prevail 
on their men either to defend themselves there, or 
to retire to the forests and mountains, where a few" 
might have resisted a thousand ; nothing could 
content them but embarking and leaving the 
place, and Monsieur Desnambue was obliged to 
comply with this. Meanwhile the English, in 
great consternation on hearing the news of Des- 
nambue's departure, endeavoured some to escape 
by sea, and others to the mountains, while 
those w^ho were left sent deputies to treat with the 
Spaniards. 

Don Frederic, having now got them in his 
power, commanded all on the island to depart 
immediately on pain of being put to the sword, 
and, to forward their going, sent them the English 
ships he had taken at Nevis; but, as there was 

z 



338 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

not room in these ships to carry off all the people 
with their families, he consented that those who 
could not embark should stay till they could be 
removed. 

Having made these regulations, Don Frederic 
weighed anchor, taking with him six hundred of 
the English who were best fitted for his service. 
But he had no sooner gone, than the English who 
were left resolved to go on with the settlement ; 
and the French, who had proceeded no farther than 
Antigua and Montserrat, sent a ship for intelligence 
to St. Christopher's. When, having been informed 
that the Spaniards were gone, and that the Eng- 
lish were busy in rebuilding and planting, they 
rejoiced at this happy and unexpected turn, and, 
sailing back to St. Christopher's, resumed posses- 
sion of their former habitations. 

The English now continued to carry on this 
colony till they were able to spare more men for 
settlements at Barbuda, Montserrat, and Antigua, 
which were peopled and planted by Sir Thomas 
Warner. At the same time, the Dutch made 
themselves masters of St. Eustatia, and the French 
took possession of some other islands. Meanwhile 
the English built themselves good houses at St. 
Christopher's, and had their wi\res and families 
there ; but the French lived in huts after the 
Carribbean manner, and, as few of them married, 
they took less pains to furnish themselves with all 
the necessaries and conveniences of life. Monsieur 
Desnambue died about the year 1637, and Sir 
Thomas Warner did not long survive him ; but, 



WESTEEX WOELD. 339 

before liis death, the colony so id creased that the 
English in the island amounted to between twelve 
and thirteen thousand. 

The chief employment of these first planters was 
cultivating tobacco, by which they gained a com- 
petent livelihood ; but afterwards, the quantity 
produced having brought down the price, in 
several places they applied themselves to the 
planting of sugar, ginger, indigo, and cotton, 
and in a little time became a rich and flourish- 
ing people. Both the French and English lived 
cordially together till the war in the reign ot 
Queen Anne, when the English drove the French 
entirely from these settlements ; and the country 
being ceded to the crown of Great Britain by the 
peace of Utrecht, all the French territory was sold 
for the benefit of the public. This must have 
produced a very large sum at the time, since out 
of it were paid £80,000 for the marriage portion 
of the Princess of Orange. 

Though St. Christopher's is the largest of all 
the Caribbee Islands, the middle part of it being 
extremely mountainous, it is thought that there are 
not above 24.000 acres of land fit for sugar in the 
whole island, and yet it could annually produce 
about 10,000 hogsheads of that valuable com- 
modity. 

It has been already observed that Sir Thomas 
Warner settled ]S"evis or Mevis about the year 
1628; and notwithstanding the English had been 
dispossessed by the Spaniards, as has been already 
related, the inhabitants of that island in twentv 



340 3>ISC0VEPJES IN THE 

years amounted to at least four thousand people, and 
they continued increasing in the same manner for 
a considerable time, having no enemies to struggle 
with but the hurricanes, which generally visited 
them once a year. 

When Sir William Stapleton was governor of 
these islands, he usually made Nevis the place of his 
residence, and most of the affairs of government 
were transacted there; for each of the leeward 
islands had in these days a lieutenant-governor, 
council, and assembly^ while the general govern- 
ment centred in the captain-general. 

In the reign of King James II. Nevis supplied 
the other islands with almost all their wines and 
negroes, and it was computed to contain above 
ten thousand persons, besides the negroes, who 
amounted to above twenty thousand. What pro- 
digious improvement must then have been made 
of this little island, which is not more than twenty 
miles in circumference, to render it capable of 
maintaining above thirty thousand men, v/omen, 
and children ! Its annual produce was about six 
thousand hogsheads of sugar. 

The island of Montserrat, so called by the Span- 
iards from its resembling a mountain in Catalonia 
of the same name, famous for a chapel dedicated 
to the Blessed Virgin, is situated in 17° north 
latitude. It is about three leagues in length, and 
almost as much in breadth, so that it seems to be 
round. It was discovered by Columbus at the 
same time as St. Christopher's, but no settlement 



WESTERN WORLD. 341 

was made upon it till Sir Thomas Warner pro- 
cured a small colony to settle there in 1632. 

This island at first flourished more than An- 
tigua; buty after Lord Willoughby's timej the 
latter got the start of it. Sixteen years after it 
was first inhabited, there were seven hundred men 
in the island, and the rolls of the militia amounted 
to three hundred and sixty. 

The climate, soil, animals, trade, and pro- 
ductions of Montserrat were the same as those 
of the other Caribbee islands. It is, however, 
more full of mountains, which are covered with 
cedars and other trees, that aflLord a delightful 
prospect from the sea. The valleys are fruitful, 
and better supplied with fresh water than those of 
Antigua. 

The island of Barbuda, which was planted by 
Sir Thomas Warner as early as Montserrat, is situ- 
ated in 17^ 30' north latitude, and is about fifteen 
miles long. The first colony was so often disturbed 
by the Caribbees, that the people were frequently 
forced to desert their plantations ; for they hardly 
passed a year in which these natives did not make 
one or two incursions, and that generally in the 
night, for they durst not attack them by day. The 
English grew weary of dwelling in a place where 
they were so much exposed to danger, and there- 
fore deserted the island ; but as the Caribbees 
diminished daily in number, and the Europeans in 
the other islands kept increasing, they again pos- , 
messed themselves of Barbuda. In a few years the 



342 DISCOYEEIES IN THE 

inhabitants amounted to five hundred, and they 
soon increased to about twelve hundred persons. 

The next plantation is that of Anguilla, or Snako 
island^ so called from its figure ; being long, nar- 
rowj and winding about. It is near St. Martin's, 
whence it may be seen, and lies in 18^ 12' north 
latitude. The country is extremely level, and 
there is not a mountain in it; it is, however, 
very woody. In the broadest part of it there is a 
large lake, about which the English settled in the 
year 1650, when they took to the planting of corn 
and the breeding of cattle. They were afterwards 
joined by some people from Barbadoes and the 
other islands. They applied themselves to farming, 
in which they had very good success, and lived like 
the old patriarchs, every man being a kind of 
sovereign in his own family. 

Antigua, or AntegOj is the last of these islands 
colonized by the English. Sir Thomas Warner 
attempted to form a settlement there, but without 
success. But Francis, Lord Willoughby^ who was 
governor of Barbadoes, obtained a grant of the 
island of Antigua, in 1663, from King Charles II.j 
and planted a colony in it about three years after. 
It is situated in le^" 11^ north latitude, and in 63^ 
west longitude. It is of a circular form, about 
twenty miles in diameter, and near sixty in cir- 
cumference. The climate is far from agreeable, 
since it is hotter than Barbadoes, and very subject 
^ to hurricanes. The soil too is sandy, and a large 
part of the land is overgrown with wood. The 



WESTERN WOELD. 343 

greatest disadvantage is that there are but few 
springs, and not so much as a single brook in the 
whole island ; so that the people depend chiefly 
upon rain water, for which they are sometimes 
distressed ; yet, notwithstanding these inconve- 
niences, Antigua soon after its settlement became 
a very considerable and very thriving plantation. 



344 DISCOVERIES IN THE 



CHAPTER XVI. 

King Charles I. grants Maryland to Lord Baltimore — Two 
hundred Koman Catholics under Leonard Calvert proceed 
thither — Overtures of trade with the natives — Happiness of 
the colonj disturbed — Mr. Calvert's dangers — His decision 
saves the colony — Description of Maryland — The conquest of 
Jamaica — Oliver Cromwell's policy — General Venables — 
Situation and climate of the island — The cocoa-nut — Pimento, 
or wild cinnamon — Carolina colonised — Spanish want of 
success — Prench equally unfortunate — Grant of King Charles 
II. — Success of the colony — Its situation and produce — Tur- 
pentine and tar — Settlement of New York by the English — 
Hudson's river — The Dutch colonies — East and West Jersey 
— Swedes the first settlers — -Description of the province — Its 
soil, and convenience for trade — The Bahamas isles dis- 
covered — Captain William Sayle's visit — Providence island — 
Spanish cruelty — The frigates — The successful government of 
Mr. Woodes Rogers. 

Maeyland was esteemed a part of Virginia till 
the year 1632, when King Charles I. loade a grant 
of all the country not then planted, on the north of 
Potowmac river, to Cecilius Oalvert, Lord Balti- 
more, and his heirs ; and this part of the country 
was afterwards called Maryland, in honour of 
Henrietta-Maria, the queen-consort. The Loi'd 
Baltimore sent his brother, Mr. Leonard Calvert, 
with some Roman Catholic gentlemen and other 
adventurers; to the number of two hundred, to take 



WESTERN WORLD. 345 

possession of the country. They arrived at Point 
Comfort, in Chesapeake Bay, on the 24th of Feb- 
ruary 1634, whence, having been supplied with 
provisions by the English of Virginia, they con- 
tinued their voyage northward to the river Potow- 
mac, which was appointed the boundary between 
Virginia and Maryland. 

These adventurers sailed up this river, and land- 
ing at several places on the northern shore, they 
informed the inhabitants that they were come to 
trade and settle among them ; but, though the na- 
tives did not seem to desire their company, no acts 
of hostility were committed on either side, and the 
English returned in safety. They then chose a place 
near the mouth of a river which fills into the 
Potowmac, and which they called St. George's 
river, and there settled their first colony. After- 
wards they advanced to an Indian town called 
Yeamoca, the capital of the country. Here they 
had a conference with the Weorance, or sovereign of 
the place, to whom they made considerable pre- 
sents, upon receiving w^hich he consented that the 
English should dvrell in one part of the town, and 
his own people in the other, till after harvest ; and 
tlmt being over, they should resign the whole to 
the Eno:lish, and retire farther into the countrv, 
which they accordingly did. It was also agreed on 
both sides, that if any wrong were done by either 
party, the nation offending should make full satis- 
faction. The reason the Yeamoca Indians were 
so ready to enter into a treaty with the Englisli, 
and to yield them a part of their country^ was 



3-16 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

the hope of obtaining their protection and assis- 
tance against their northern neighbours, the Susque- 
hannah Indians, with whom they were then at 
Avar. 

Having thus, by the most lawful methods, ob- 
tained the possession of the town, the Enghsh 
gave it the name of St. Mary's, and immediately 
applied themselves with great diligence to cultivate 
the ground, and raise large quantities of Indian 
corn ; while the natives went every day into the 
woods to hunt for game, bringing venison and 
turkeys to the English colony in great abundance, 
and receiving knives, tools, and toys, in exchange. 
Thus both nations lived in the greatest friendship, 
doing good offices to each other, till some of the 
English in Virginia, envying the happiness of this 
thriving colony, wickedly suggested to the Indians 
that these strangers were not really English, as 
they pretended, but Spaniards, who would enslave 
them, as they had done many of their country- 
men. 

The Indians being credulous enough to believe 
this report, grew jealous of Mr. Calvert, and made 
preparations for attacking the colony; the English, 
who perceived their intentions, stood upon their 
guard, and erected a fort for their security, on which 
they planted several pieces of ordnance, at the firing 
of which the natives w^ere so terrified that they 
abandoned their country, and left the English in full 
possession of it. These, on their part, continually 
receiving supplies and reinforcements from Eng- 
land, soon became a flourishing people; many 



Yv'ESTERN WOELD. 347 

popish families of quality and fortancj to avoid 
the penal laws made against them in England, 
joined them, and from that time ^Maryland became 
a place of refuge for those of that persuasion. How- 
ever, no country in America can boast of having 
had fewer disturbances on account of religion than 
this ; for, though the colony consisted of persons of 
all persuasions, they lived together in the greatest 
tranquillity, as if they made it their business to 
forget the points about which they differed, and to 
remember only that they were Englishmen and 
Christians ; and this appeared in their kind beha- 
viour to the Indians, with whom they had scarcely 
any difference. 

Maryland was situated in between 38^ and 40^ 
north latitude, and between 44° and 48^ west lon- 
gitude ; however, the western boundaries were very 
uncertain, some extending them beyond the Alleg- 
hany mountains. This province is bounded by 
part of Pensilvania and the Atlantic Ocean on tlie 
east ; by Virginia on the south ; and the Alleghany 
mountains lie on the west ; the length from 
north to south being about one hundred and forty 
miles, but the breadth so far as it was planted not 
so considerable. The north end of the bay of 
Chesapeake divided Maryland into two parts, called 
the eastern and western shores. 

The face of the country, like that of Virginia, 
may be divided into the low lands next the sea, 
the hilly country towards the heads of the rivers, 
and the Alleghany mountains, which are exceeding 
high, and run from the north-east to the south- 



848 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

west, parallel to the Atlantic ocean. The low 
lands formerly consisted of swarnps of woods, and 
were almost one continued forest till the English 
cleared part of it^ either to make room for their 
plantations, or for the building of ships and houses, 
or the making of tobacco-casks and pipe-staves for 
exportation, which caused such havoc among the 
woods that the people soon began to want timber, 
especially near their forts and rivers. 

This country is watered by innumerable springs 
and a great many fine rivers. The chief are the 
Potowmac, which, rising in the mountains north- 
west, runs to the south-east, and separates Mary- 
land from Virginia on the south-west, and then 
falls into the middle of Chesapeake bay. The river 
Pocomoac, which rises near the ocean, and runs 
directly south, till, turning to the west, it also falls 
into Chesapeake bar, near Watkins' point. The 
river Patuxent rises in Arundel county, and run- 
ning to the south-east, falls into Chesapeake bay, 
about twenty miles to the northward of the river 
Potowmac. Severn river rises on the north-west, 
runs south-east, and falls into the upper part of 
the same bay. Cheptonk rises on the eastern 
shore, and, running to the south-west, falls into ^he 
same bay. Sassafras river rises in the north-east^ 
and, running almost due west, falls into the north 
end of the same bay. Vricomo river rises on the 
eastern shore, runs to the south-west, and falls into 
the bay almost against the mouth of Potowmac 
river ; and St. Greorge's river, on the west side of 
the bay, runs from north to soutl], and falls into 



WESTERN WORLD. 349 

the nioutli of the river Potowmac. There are 
many other rivers capable of receiving large ships, 
which, with the numeroas bays and creeks where- 
with the land on every side is indented, afford the 
advantage of bringing vessels to the very doors of 
the planters. 

Though the weather in summer is excessively 
liot. and in winter very cold w^hen the north wind 
blows, yet the heat is seldom troublesome, and ex- 
cept in a perfect calm, which does not happen 
above two or three days in the year, and then only 
a few hours at a time ; even this inconvenience is 
made very tolerable by ^ool shades, open and airy 
rooms, arbours, and grottoes. In spring and autumn 
the weather is as pleasant as can be wished ; even 
the winter does not last above three or four months, 
and in this there is seldom one month of bad v/ea- 
ther. During all the rest they have a clear air 
and a bright sun, and are scarcely ever troubled 
Vv'ith fogs. They have indeed sometimes hard 
frosts, but they last no longer than w^hile the wind 
blows from the north and north-west, which is 
seldom more than three or four days , at other 
times, they have no frost at all. The rain, except 
in the depth of winter, is pleasant and refreshing, 
and in summer continues but a few hours. The 
summer showers, how^ever, are very heavy for the 
time they last ; and that part of the country which 
lies on the bays of the sea and the mouths of the 
rivers is certainly hot and moist, but higher up in 
the country the air is more agreeable, especially 
since the lands have been cleared of wood. In 



350 DTSCOYERIES IN THE 

the heat of summer there are, however, dreaclfal 
thunder-storms ; but, as these cool and refresh the 
air, the people rather wish for than fear them. 

OUver Cromwell, sensible of the advantages the 
Spaniards obtained from their provinces in America, 
formed a project for taking from them the fine 
island of Hispaniola ; and, for this purpose, sent a 
considerable squadron of men-of-war, commanded 
by General Penn, with a fleet of transports under 
General Venables ; they sailed from Portsmouth^ 
and arrived at Barbadoes on the 15th of January, 
1654. Afterwards they sailed to Hispaniola; but, 
being repulsed with loss, it was resolved to try 
what could be done against the island of Jamaica. 

When the fleet and troops arrived at this last 
island, General Venables issued orders, that if any 
man attempted to run away, the man next to him 
should put him to death, and that, if he failed to do 
it, he should be liable to be tried for his life. The 
troops no sooner landed than they advanced to- 
wards the fort, of which they made themselves 
masters with little loss, and the next morning when 
the sun arose, they began to march towards the 
savannah, near the town. Some Spaniards came 
forwards and desired to treat, but this the general 
refused, unless they would send his men a constant 
supply of provisions, of which they were in great 
want ; the Spaniards consented, and actually per- 
formed their promise. After this the following 
articles were agreed upon: — That all the forts, arms, 
ammunition, and necessaries of war; that all the 
shipj)ing in the harbours of the island ; and all 



WESTERN WORLD. 351 

wares, merchandise, &c.j should be deliv'ered up to 
General Venables^ for the use of the Protector and 
Commonwealth of England. That all the inha- 
bitants of the island, except some that were par- 
ticularly named, should have tlieir lives granted. 
That those who chose it should have leave to stay, 
and the others to be transported to New Spain, or 
some other of his Catholic Majesty's dominions in 
America, together with their apparel, books, and 
papers. That the commission officers alone at their 
departure should be permitted to wear their rapiers 
and poniards ; and that all artificers, and people of 
the meaner sort, should be permitted to remain in 
'he island and to enjoy their goods, provided they 
conformed to the laws that should be established. 

Thus the fine island of Jamaica was subdued ; 
and though the Spaniards continued to lurk about 
some parts of it for several years afterwards.^, and 
once made a bold attempt to recover the place. 
Colonel Doyly forced them to withdraw, and so 
effectually reduced the whole island that, at the 
restoration, the Spaniards yielded it to the crown 
of Great Britain, to which it has belonged ever 
since, and it is the noblest possession we have in 
tliose parts. 

Jamaica is situated in between 17° and IS"" north 
latitude, and between 76° and 79° west longitude. 
It is 140 miles in length, and in the middle about 
sixty in breadth, growing less towards each end. 
It is about twenty leagues east of Hispaniola, and 
as many south of Cuba, and is upwards of 150 
leagues to the northward of Porto Bello and Car- 



352 DISCOVESIES IN THE 

thagena. The whole island is one continued ridge 
of hills, which run from east to west, througli the 
middle of it. These are generally called the Blue 
MoiintainSj and on each side there are other hills 
much lower. The mountainous part is very steep, 
and furrowed on the north and south sides of the 
highest hills by very deep channels, made by vio- 
lent rain, which almost every day falls on the 
mountains ; at first wearing a small channel for its 
passage, and afterwards carrying all before it, 
it makes its channels extremely deep* All the 
high lands are covered with woods, in which there 
is very good timber, though the soil is extremely 
barren, and the trees are obliged to shoot their 
fibrous roots into the crannies of the rocks. Most 
of the savannahs, or plains fit for pasture and 
cleared of wood, are like our meadow lands, and 
lie near the south side of the island, where a 
person may ride many miles without meeting with 
the least ascent ; some of these plains are within 
land encircled with hills. These savannahs are 
very green and pleasant after rain, but after a long 
drought look yellow, and are much parched. There 
are nearly a hundred rivers in Jamaica, but none of 
them navigable ; for, rising in the mountains in the 
middle of the island, they precipitate themselves 
down the rocks to the north and south, falling into 
the sea before they have run many miles, and fre- 
quently carry down with them large trees and 
great pieces of rock, and it is very common to have 
cataracts among the mountains fifty or sixty feet 
high. Yet in dry seasons water is very scarce in" 



WESTERN WORLD. 353 

the savannah distant from rivers, so that many 
cattle die ; and it is remarkable that some rivers 
which rise in the mountains sink under ground in 
many places, in particular^ the Rio d'Oro falls and 
rises two or three times. Some of the springs 
and rivers petrify, and stop their course by accu- 
mulating cement, which unites the gravel and 
sand in their channels. There are several hot 
springs, and also many salt springs which form 
salt lagunaS; or great ponds ; one of these is called 
Riottoa-Pond, which receives a great deal of water 
by a river, and yet has no visible rivulet or dis- 
charge running from it ; and in these and other 
ponds formed by the sea-water, great abundance of 
salt is made by the heat of the sun exhaling the 
moisture. 

This island being 7^ within the tropic, has the 
trade- wind continually on the south side of it, 
where it is called the sea breeze. It comes 
about eight o'clock in the morning, and increases 
till twelve in the day, and then, as the sun grows 
lower, it decreases till there is none at four in the 
afternoon. The land breeze begins about eight 
in the evening, blowing four leagues into the sea : 
it continues increasing till twelve at night, and 
decreases again till four. Thus, as the land wind 
blows at night and the sea breeze in the daytime, 
no ships can come into port except in the day, 
nor go out but at break of day or very soon after. 

The island is so very subject to earthquakes 
that the inhabitants expect one every year : some 
of these have been extremely dreadful, particularly 

2 a 



354 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

one in the year 1692, when the town of Port- 
Eoyal was almost swallowed up. Thunder is 
heard almost every day in the mountains with 
the rain there ; frost and snow are never seen in 
this hot climate, but hail is not unusual. 

The dews are here so great within land, that 
in the morning the water drops from the leaves 
of the trees as if it had rained ; and a man riding 
in the night will find his clothes and hair wet in 
a short time ; but there are seldom any fogs in the 
plains or sandy places near the sea. The rain is 
violent, and the drops are very large. Generally 
speaking, the great rainy seasons are in May and 
October, when they begin at the new or full moon, 
and continue day and night for a fortnight ; so 
that Sir Hans Sloane observed, that all the level 
jolaces are laid some inches under water. In the 
month of January is also expected a rainy season ; 
but this is neither so constant nor so violent as 
the other two. 

As to its produce, the island has all the tropical 
fruits, as plantains, cocoas, pine-apples, cacao or 
the chocolate nut, pimento, cotton-trees, woods for 
dying, mahogany, and manchineel wood ; ginger, 
and several medicinal drugs and gums. It pro- 
duces cacao-nuts in great abundance. 

The cacao-nuts grow on a tree, in green, red, 
and yellow pods, every pod having in it three, 
four, or five kernels, about the size and shape of 
chestnuts ; these are separated from each other by 
a substance like the pulp of a roasted apple, which 
is moderately sharp and sweet, and from which 



WESTERN WORLD. 355 

these kernels or nuts are taken when ripe, and 
cured by drying. The stem of a cacao-tree is 
commonly four inches in diameter, and about 
twelve feet to the top of the tree. These trees ai-e 
very different, for some shoot up in two or three 
stems, and others only in one; their leaves, unless 
in very young trees, are many of them dead, and 
most of them discoloured ; a bearing tree gene- 
rally yields from two to eight pounds of nuts 
a-year, growing out of the body or great limbs and 
boughs, and at the same place there are blossoms 
and young and ripe fruit. The trees are always 
planted under the shade ; some set them under 
plantain-trees, and some in the woods. The nuts 
are cured by being cut down when ripe, and 
laid to sweat three or four days in the pods, which 
is done by throwing them on heaps ; after this 
the pods are cut, the nuts taken out, and put into 
a trough covered with plantain leaves, where they 
sweat again about sixteen or twenty days ; they 
are then put to dry three or four weeks in the 
sun, and then become of a dark-reddish colour. 

The pimento is another of the natural produc- 
tions of Jamaica ; it is called the Jamaica pepper, 
that being the chief place where it is found. The 
pimento-tree is generally very tall and spreading, 
with a trunk as thick as a man's thigh : it rises 
straight above thirty feet high, and is covered with 
an extraordinary smooth bark of a grey colour ; 
it then spreads into branches, which have leaves 
resembling those of a bay-tree, and which when 
bruised are very odoriferous. The ends of the 



356 DISCOYERIES TX THE 

twigs are branched into bunches of flowers, whicli, 
falling off, are succeeded by bunches of berries 
crowned with four small leaves. These berries 
are at first small and greenish, but when ripe they 
are bigger than juniper-berries; they are then 
black, smooth, and shining, and contain a small 
green aromatic pulp^ with two large seeds separated 
by a membrane. 

This tree grows on all the hilly parts of the 
island of Jamaica, but chiefly on the north side ; 
it is generally left standing when other trees are 
felled, and is sometimes planted where it never 
grew before, on account of the great profit arising 
from the fruit. The pimento flowers in June, 
July,. and August, sooner or later according to situa- 
tion ; and after it flowers the fruit soon ripens^ 
but in clear open ground it is sooner ripe than in 
thick woods. 

There is no great difliculty in curing or pre- 
serving the fruit : it Is for the most part done by 
the negroes, who climb the trees, and pull ofif the 
twigs with the unripe green fruit, after which they 
carefully separate the fruit from the twigs and 
leaves, and expose it to the sun for many days, 
spreading the berries thinly on cloths, turning them 
frequently, and carefully avoiding the dews. By 
this means they become a little wrinkled, and 
from a green change to a brown colour, when 
they are considered fit for the market : they are of 
difierent sizes, but commonly of the size of black 
pepper, and resemble in smell and taste a mix- 
ture of spices, whence the name is called AU-spica 



"WESTERN WORLD. ' 35T 

The more fragrant and smaller tliey are, tlie better 
they are accounted. Sir Hans Sloane used to 
observe, that this is deservedly reckoned the best, 
mildest, and most innocent of all spices. 

The wild cinnamon, or more properly the Canella 
alba tree, also grows in this island. Its trunk is 
about the size of the pimento-tree, and rises twenty 
or thirty feet, having . many branches and twigs 
hanging downwards, and forming a very beautiful 
top. The bark consists of two parts ; the outward 
bark is as thin as a shilling, of a whitish-ash or 
grey colour, with some white spots here and there 
upon it, and several shallow furrows of a darker 
colour running through it. This bark has an 
aromatic taste. The inward bark is as thick as a 
crown-piece, smooth, and of a whiter colour. than 
the outward ; it has a much more biting .a.nd aro-, 
matic taste, somewhat like that of cloves. The 
leaves shoot out near the ends of the twigs with- 
out any order, standing on footstalks, each of them 
two inches in length, and one in breadth. They 
are of a yellowish-green colour, smooth and shining, 
without any incisures about their edges. The 
ends of the twigs are branched .into bunches of 
scarlet or purple flowers; and when these fall off 
they are succeeded by clusters of reddish-green 
berries, of the size of a large pea, that contain a 
pale-green thin pulp, and four black shining seeds 
of an irregular figure. 

All the parts of this tree, when fresh, are very 
hot and aromatic ; but the inner bark is what is 
chiefly in use, and it is easily cured by only cutting 



358 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

it off and letting it dry in the shade. The ordinary 
sort of people in the West Indies use it instead of 
other spices, it being thought very good to help 
digestion. 

As great quantities of indigo have been produced 
in Jamaica, we shall here give a particular account 
of the manner in which it was first cultivated and 
prepared. Indigo thrives best in sandy ground. 
The seed from whence it is raised is yellow^ round, 
and somewhat less than a tare. The soil is made 
light by hoeing ; then trenches are dug like those 
our gardeners prepare for peas ; into these the seed 
is put about March, it grows ripe in eight weeks' 
time, and in fresh broken ground will spring up 
about three feet high, but in other soil not more than 
eighteen inches. The stalk is full of leaves of a 
deep-green colour, and it will, from the first sowing, 
yield many crops in one year. When ripe it is cut 
and steeped in vats twenty-four hours, after which 
it is cleared from the first water, and put into proper 
cisterns, where, when it has been carefully beaten, 
it settles in about eighteen hours. In these cis- 
terns are several taps, which let the clear water 
run out^ and the thick is put into bags of about 
three feet long, which, being hung up, all the 
liquid drops away ; when it will drop no longer, 
what remains is put into wooden boxes about three 
feet long, fourteen inches wide, and one and a half 
deep. These boxes are placed in the sun till the 
indigo is very hot, and then taken in till the ex- 
treme heat is over; and this process is repeated till 
it is sufficiently dried. 



TTESTEEX WORLD. 359 

In land that proves proper for indigo, the la- 
bour of one hand will in a year's time produce 
between eighty and a hundred pounds weight, if 
no accidents happen ; for indigo, as well as other 
commodities in those parts, is subject to many — 
the most common being blasting and worms, by 
which it is frequently destroyed. We come now 
to Carolina. 

Carolina is a part of that extensive country in 
North America which was formerly comprehended 
under the name of Florida. It was first discovered 
by Sebastian Cabot, and afterwards received the 
name of Florida from Juan Ponce de Leon. 

The Spaniards endeavoured several times to 
make settlements in this country ; but after many 
unfortunate and expensive expeditions, bein^. 
thoroughly discouraged, they abandoned it for 
several years. At length, when the French per- 
ceived that this large tract of land was neglected 
by the Spaniards, Admiral Coliguy sent John 
Eibaut, who formed a settlement there in the reign 
of Charles IX., and having built a fort, called it 
Charles fort, giving the name of Port Eoyal to the 
harbour. A civil war was then raging in France, 
andEibauf s soldiers mutinied for want of supplies ; 
for though the natives were very kind to them out 
of hatred to the Spaniards, they could not furnish 
them with many of the necessaries they wanted ; 
Eibaut, therefore, after making some discoveries in 
the east part of Florida, returned to France. In 
liis passage the men were reduced to such extre- 
mity, that they killed and eat one of the crew, and 



o 



360 DISCOVERIES IK THE 

would probably have done so to others, had they not 
providentially met with an English ship, which 
supplied them with some provisions. Two years 
after, a peace being concluded in France between 
the Papists and Protestants, Admiral Coligny pro- 
cared more ships to be sent out ; and, some time 
after, Ribaut followed with other vessels and a 
supply of men and provisions. 

The French now began to conceive great hope 
of this plantation, when a squadron of Spanish 
ships drove them out of their fort, basely killed 
Eibaut and 600 men, after having given them 
quarter, and obliged the few whom they suffered to 
remain alive to return to France. 

The French king was the less moved at this 
outrage committed on his subjects, on account of 
their being Protestants. However, Peter Melanda^ 
who had dislodged the French, so provoked the 
Indians by his cruelty and injustice, that they only 
waited for an opportunity to be revenged, and they 
were not long in finding one. Captain de Gorgues, 
a French gentleman, at his own expense had fitted 
out three stout ships, and having sailed to Carolina 
with 280 men, and engaged the assistance of the 
Indians, he took Fort Charles, and put all the 
Spaniards he found therein to the sword. They 
had built two other forts, which he easily 
reduced, served the garrison in the same man- 
ner, and then demolished the fortifications. It 
does not appear that M. de Gorgues made any 
settlement, or that the Spaniards endeavoured to 
recover the country, which, from the year 1567, 



WESTERN WORLD. 361 

was deserted by all European nations till the reigu 
of Charles II., King of England. 

In 1622, several English families, to escape the 
massacres committed by the Indians in Virginia 
and New England, were driven upon these coasts, 
and settled in the province of Malica, near the 
head of the river I»Iay, where they became mis- 
sionaries among the natives. In the year 1653, 
Mr. Brigstock, an Englishman, went to Apala- 
chia, where he was honourably entertained by his 
countrymen who were there. It was this person 
who wrote an account of this settlement. 

Such was the state of things when King Charles 
II., after the country had been abandoned by the 
French for nearly a hundred years, made a grant 
of the whole province in 1663 to Edward, Earl 
of Clarendon, Lord High Chancellor of England ; 
George, Duke of Albermarle ; William, Lord 
Craven ; Anthony, Lord Ashley ; Sir George Car- 
teret ; Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colliton. 
The country so granted extended from the north 
end of Luck island, within 36"" of north latitude, 
to the river San Matthio, which borders on the 
coast of Florida, and to the westward as far as the 
South Seas, 

These proprietors afterwards obtained another 
grant, which somewhat varied the bounds of their 
province, by fixing its northern frontier at Carotoch 
river, in 36^ 30' north latitude, and its southern 
frontier in 29^, within which bounds both the Caro- 
linas and the new province of Georgia are in- 
cluded. 



3G2 DISCOVEIIIES IN THE 

The form of government which was to be in- 
troduced into this new colony, was struck out by 
that great statesman, Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury, 
and digested by the celebrated John Locke ; but 
after it had been in the possession of the proprie- 
tors or their heirs for about sixty years, seven of 
them sold their shares to the crown for XIT^SOO, 
each proprietor who had a whole share having 
£2,5005 ^^d the quit-rents and other incomes due 
to them, amounting to about £9,000, which they 
also sold to the crown for £5,000. This surrender 
was confirmed by Act of Parliament in the year 
1728, when the remaining one-eighth of the pro- 
perty, in the possession of the Lord Carteret, was 
confirmed to him and his heirs ; and, in consequence 
of the powers granted to his majesty by this act, 
he had the appointment of the governors of North 
and South CaroHna. 

This province is situated between the extremes 
of heat and cold ; but yet the heat is more trouble- 
some in summer than the cold in winter, this last 
season being very short, and frosty mornings being 
frequently succeeded by warm days. The air is 
for the most part serene and clear, both in summer 
and winter ; yet the inhabitants have their winter 
rains, and sometimes very heavy showers about 
midsummer, especially if the wind changes sud- 
denly from the south-east to the north-west, when 
it blows exceeding cold, and brings sickness to 
those who do not take care to guard against it. 
To those who live regularly and use any precaution, 
the country is generally healthful; but persons 



TTESTERN WORLD, 363 

who^ after a hot day, expose themselves to the cold 
breezes of the evening, usually feel their injurious 
effects, as do those who indulge themselves in 
eating gi^eat quantities of fruit, and drinking to 
excess. The country is subject to hurricanes, as 
well as the Caribbee islands, but they do not 
happen every year. 

This province is now divided into North and 
South Carolina, and the country known by the 
name of Georgia was also within the original 
limits of the colony. 

North Carolina is bounded by Virginia on the 
north ; by the ocean on the east ; by a line drawn 
in 34° from the ocean to the mountains, on the 
south ; and by that part of Florida, which at this 
time was possessed by the Indians^ on tlie west. 

South Carolina is divided from North Carolina 
by the above imaginary line on the north ; by the 
ocean on the east ; by the river Savannah, which 
separates it from Georgia, on the south ; and by 
the country of the Indians on the west. 

As to the produce of the country, all sorts of 
trees and plants will grow there as well as can be 
wished, especially the citron-tree ; white mulberry 
trees, for feeding silkworms; orange-trees, olives, 
vines, rice, wheat, barley, oats, pease, beans, hemp, 
flax, cotton, tobacco, and indigo. The lands were 
not difficult to clear, because there were neither 
stones nor brambles, but only great trees, which 
do not grow very thick, so that more land could 
be cleared there in one week than could be done 
in Europe in a month. It was customary with 



364 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

the first colonists in the country to cut down these 
great trees, and to leave the stumps four or five 
years to rot, after which they rooted them up in 
order to manure the land. The ground is indeed 
sandy, but this sand is impregnated with a salt, 
which renders it very fruitful ; so that there are 
a great number of plantations that have been 
continually cultivated for seventy years, which yet 
produce great crops without ever being manured. 

Silkworms in Carolina are hatched from the 
egg about the middle of March, at the same time 
that the mulberry leaves, which are their food, 
begin to open. Attended and fed six weeks, 
they eat no more, but have small bushes set up 
for them, where they spin themselves into balls, 
that are thrown into warm water and wound off 
into raw silk. 

Turpentine, resin, tar, and pitch are all produced 
from a sort of pine-tree ; turpentine, by cutting 
in the standing green trees several channels that 
meet at the foot of the tree, where a receiver is 
placed. These channels are cut as high as a per- 
son can reach with an axe, and the bark is peeled 
ofi" from all those parts of the trunk that are ex- 
posed to the sun, that its heat may the more easily 
force out the turpentine which flows into the 
receiver. This turpentine when boiled becomes 
resin. 

Tar is made by preparing a circular floor of 
clay, declining towards the centre, from which is 
laid sloping a wooden pipe, which reaches about 
ten feet without the circumference. Under the 



WESTERN WORLD. 365 

end of this pipe the earth is dug away, and barrels 
placed to receive the tar as it runs. Upon the 
floor is built a pile of dry pine- wood, split in pieces, 
and surrounded with a wall of earth, which covers 
it all over except a little hole at the top, where 
the fire is first kindled : after the fire begins to 
burn they also cover the top to prevent any flame, 
and to keep up a sufficient heat to force the tar 
downwards into the pipe in the centre of the floor. 
This heat they temper as they please, by thrusting 
a stick through the earth and letting in the air at 
as many places as they think proper. Pitch is 
made by boiling tar in large iron kettles set in 
furnaces, or by burning it in round clay holes 
made in the earth. 

The next colony in America settled by the 
English was that of Kew York, to which they at 
that time laid claim by the double right of dis- 
covery and conquest. The coast was first viewed 
by Sebastian Cabot, and in the reign of Queen 
Elizabeth, the country round was considered as a 
part of the province of Virginia. Afterwards, in 
the year 1608, the famous navigator Hudson dis- 
covered the river that has since borne his name, 
and the adjacent territory, which he afterwards, 
without any legal authority, sold to the Dutch, 
who settled there. At length some English dis- 
senters, who for the sake of religious liberty had 
fled to Holland, having heard the Dutch give an 
inviting description of the river, climate, and soil, 
embarked thither ; but the master of the ship 
being bribed by the Dutch, obliged them to land 



866 DISCOYEEIES IN THE 

farther to tlie nortliward, where, as already related, 
they became the first planters of New England. 

Two or three years before this. Sir Samuel Argall 
had destroyed the Dutch plantations, when, to pre- 
vent the like in future, the Dutch applied to King 
James for his licence to stay there, to build cottages, 
and to plant for traffic as well as subsistence ; pre- 
tending that it was only for the convenience of 
their ships touching there for fresh w^ater and 
provisions in their voyage to Brazil. But by little 
and little they extended their limits, built towns, 
fortified them, and became a flourishing colony. 
They called the country Nova Belgia. 

These Dutch colonies were in this thriving con- 
dition at the opening of the first Dutch war in 
King Charles the Second's reign, when they were 
attacked by the English in 1644 under Sir Eobert 
Carr, who was sent to take possession of them. 
Carr took with him between two and three thou- 
sand men, and, having ofiered protection to such 
of the inhabitants as submitted, became master of 
the whole country without a blow. After which 
his majesty gave leave to such of the inhabitants 
as were so inclined to stay, and suffered the rest 
to depart freely with their effects. The number of 
these latter was but very inconsiderable in compa- 
rison of the former. Colonel Nichols was left 
governor of the province, and continued so twenty 
years ; in which time he brought the people to be 
so contented with the English government, that 
there never was the least disturbance on account 
of their being subject to England. 



WESTERN "WORLD. 367 

The Duke of York granted away part of this 
province ; but the renaainder, which was styled 
New Yorkj continued under the power of the crown. 
The province so called was bounded by Canada on 
the north ; by New England on the east ; by the 
ocean on the south ; and by Pennsylvania on the 
west ; extending above two hundred miles in length 
from north to south, but it is scarcely sixty miles 
broad in any part. To this must be added the 
island of Manahattan, upon which the city of 
New York is built ; Staten Island and Long 
Islandj all which lie before the mouth of Hudson's 
river^ and were comprehended in New York 
proper. 

The countries called the Jerseys fell under the 
dominion of the crown of Great Britain by the 
conquest of Nova Belgia or New York, of which 
they were a part. The several voyages that had 
been made for the planting of Virginia, rendered 
these coasts very well known to multitudes of Eng- 
lish seamen, who, being dispersed into different 
parts of the world, carried the news of these rich 
and pleasant countries in America along with 
them wherever they went, and so inspired strangers 
with a strong desire of possessing what we seemed 
to neglect. 

The first Europeans who settled here were the 
Swedes, who had three towns in this province, 
Christina — called by the Indians Andastaka, El- 
singbourg, and Gottembourg. Their settlements 
were chiefly on the south side of the river towards 
Pennsylvania ; opposite to which there is a place 



368 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

still called Fort Elsingbourg. The Swedes, how- 
ever, made but little progress in their plantation ; 
while the Dutch, always industrious in promoting 
their own advantage, worked them so far out of it, 
that Bergen, the northern part of New Jersey, wao 
almost entirely planted anew by Hollanders. At 
length King Charles II. gave this tract in his 
grant of Nova Belgia to the Duke of York ; but the 
English made no settlement in it till several years 
after they were in the possession of that province, 
and had much extended their plantations. 

The Duke of York invested the province, under 
the name of Nova Caneria, in John Lord Berkeley 
and Sir George Carteret, and they, or their assignees, 
agreed to divide it into two parts. East Jersey, 
which borders on New York, fell to Sir George, 
and, as his family was of the isle of Jersey, this 
province took its name from thence; and West 
New Jersey, which, borders on Pennsylvania, fell to 
the Lord Berkeley, who agreed to give the name 
of Jersey to the whole. 

This entire province, containing the two Jerseys, 
has the main ocean on the south and east ; the 
river Delawar, which separates it from Pennsylvania, 
on the west ; and Hudson's river on the north. It 
lies between 39^ and 40^ north latitude, and ex- 
tends in length above one hundred and twenty 
miles, and sixty in breadth from north to south. 
The largest and best inhabited part of the province 
is East Jersey, which extends from Little-egg har- 
bour to that part of Hudson's river which is in 
5P north latitude ; and to the southward and west- 



WESTERN WOKLD. 369 

ward was divided from West Jersey by a line of 
partition, that extends in length from Egg Har- 
bour to the south branch of Raritan river, and 
contains Bergen county, Essex county, and Middle- 
sex, on the north side of the last-mentioned river, 
and Monmouth county on the south. West Jersey 
contains the same number of counties, and these 
are Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, and Cape May. 

These two provinces were for a considerable time 
in the hands of different proprietors ; but at length, 
on the 22nd of April, 1702, the proprietors made 
an assignment of their rights to Queen Anne, and 
ever since that time all these states declared their 
independence ; they constituted but one royal go- 
vernment, the king appointing the governor and 
council, and the freemen choosing the representative 
body of the commons. 

The soil and convenience of rivers and creeks 
are much the same in both Jerseys, except that 
West Jersey abounds more in the latter, from its 
situation on Delav^ar river. As the English colony 
behaved with such integrity to the Indians as to 
purchase of them the land they planted, they had 
the advantage of living without molestation, and 
the inhabitants soon amounted to about one hun- 
dred thousand. 

We now come to the settlement of the Lucayan 
or Bahama islands, the first parts of the new world 
discovered by Columbus, who arrived first at 
Guanahani, to which he gave the name of St. 
Salvador, but the English changed it to that of Cat 
island. The Spaniards never thought of settling 

2b 



370 PISCOYEEIES IN THE 

there, though they cruelly extirpated the native 
inhabitants, who were at that time remarkable for 
being the best people in all America: they wan- 
tonly murdered many thousands of these innocent 
persons, without any advantage to themselves. 

As these islands lie pretty much out of the course 
of ships bound to the continent of America, it was 
long before we had any notice of them; but in 
1667, Captain William Sayle, being bound to 
Carolina, was forced by a storm among them, which 
gave him an opportunity of examining them care- 
fully, particularly one large island to which he first 
gave his ow^n name; but, being a second time driven 
upon it when bound to the continent, he gave it 
the name of Providence. 

After his return to England, Sayle let tlie pro- 
prietors of Carolina know the situation and circum- 
stances of these islands, observing that, if settlements 
were made there they might not only be of great 
benefit to this nation, but be a constant check ou 
the French and Spaniards, in case of a breach with 
either or both of those nations. These reasons 
being suggested to King Charles IL, his majesty 
made a grant of the Bahama islands to George 
Duke of Albemarle, Anthony Lord Ashley, John 
Lord Berkeley, William Lord Craven, Sir George 
Carteret, and Sir Peter Colliton. 

The Bahama islands are situated to the north of 
Cuba, and stretch to the north-east from the south- 
v>^est between 21° and 27 north latitude, and be- 
tween 73'' and 81° west longitude. The island of 
Bahama, which communicates its nan^e to the rest^ 



WESTERN WORLD. 371 

is seated in latitude 26*" 30', at the distance of 
about twenty or thirty leagues from the conti- 
nent of Florida. It is about fifty miles in length, 
but scarcely any where sixty miles in breadth, and 
in many places not half so broad. It is, however, 
very pleasant and fruitful ; the soil is remarkably 
rich, and the country every wdiere abounds with 
brooks, and springs of fresh water. 

Providence island lies in the centre of some 
hundreds of islands, some of them many miles in 
length, and others no bigger than small rocks ris- 
ing above the water; so that it is extremely dan- 
gerous for ships to be forced in among them by a 
tempest. This island lies in 25^ north latitude, 
and is twenty-eight miles long, and eleven miles 
broad at the greatest breadth. The most consider- 
able profit made by the planters of Providence 
island, arose from the misfortunes of such as were 
shipwrecked, or from those who, in a winter voyage 
to the continent of America, were driven to the 
Bahamas, and put into Providence for provisions, 
which, it is true, had itself little or none but what 
came from Carolina ; however, the traders in the 
island kept storehouses to supply those who wanted, 
and thus afforded great relief to unfortunate 
mariners, and profit to themselves. 

The first governor who was sent to Providence 
island by the proprietors %vas Mr. Chillingworth, 
who went there about the year 1672, when several 
people sailed from England and the other colonies 
to settle there ; but as they lived a most licentious 
life, they grew impatient under government, and; 



372 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

as Mr. vChiling worth endeavoured to bring them 
to reason, they assembled tumultuously, seized 
him, shipped him off for Jamaica, and after that 
lived as they thought proper. 

Though such an unruly colony afforded but 
little encouragement for. any man to put himself 
into their hands, yet, six or seven years after, the 
proprietors made Mr. Clarke governor, whose fate 
was much worse than that of his predecessor; 
for the Spaniards, being at that time jealous of 
every new English colony towards the south, landed 
in Providence, destroyed all the stock which the 
inhabitants could not carry off, and burned their 
houses , and, wdiat is still more barbarous, as Mr. 
Trott, one of Mr. Clarke's successors always 
asserted, they roasted Clarke on a spit after they 
had killed him! It is quite cretain that they 
killed him, and that, the people removing toother 
colonies,, the island remained uninhabited till about 
the time of the revolution, when several persons 
removed thither from the continent, and a new 
governor was appointed by the proprietors. 

About ten years after this last settlement, there 
w^ere in Providence and the adjacent islands nearly 
1000 inhabitants; some tobacco was planted; a 
sugar-mill set up, and other improvements made ; 
but in 1708, the Spaniards and JFrench landed, 
surprised the fort, took the governor prisoner, 
plundered and stripped the English, burned the 
town of Nassau, together with the church, ruined 
the fort, and nailed up the guns. After this they 
carried. off the governor, and about half the blacks, 



WESTERN WORLD.- 373 

the rest saving themselves in^ the woods, and in 
about a month after they returned, and took most 
of the negroes who were left. After this second 
invasion the English inhabitants of the Bahamas 
thought it in vain to stay any longer, and therefore 
removed, some to Carolina, some to Virginia, and 
some to New England and other places. In the 
mean time the proprietors appointed one Mr. Birch 
to go over as governor, who, landing in Providence 
and finding it a desert, did not give himself the 
trouble to open his comanission, but after having 
remained there two or three months, during which 
he was forced to sleep in the woods, he returned to 
England, and left the place still uninhabited. 

After this the Bahama islands became a re- 
ceptacle for pirates, and the House of Lords 
considering that it would be of fatal consequence 
if they fell into the hands of an enemy, urged upon 
her mnjesty Queen Anne, that the island of Provi- 
dence at any rate, might be put in a posture of 
defence ; but this advice being neglected, their 
lordships, four years after, addressed his majesty 
King George I. on the same subject,- who was 
pleased to give directions for dislodging the pirates, 
making settlements in the island, and erecting a 
fortification. 

Captain Woodes Rogers was now appointed 
governor, and sailed for Providence in April, 1718, 
with a naval force for subduing the pirates. In 
the mean time Colonel Bennett, governor of Ber- 
mudas, sent a sloop to the island, ordering them to 
surrender, pursuant to a late proclamation. Those 



374 DISCOYEKIES IN THE 

who were then on the island gladly accepted tho 
mercy offered them, and promised to surrender 
themselves as soon as they could get a passage to 
the English colonies; adding, that they did not 
doubt but their companions who were at sea would 
gladly follow their example. Accordingly. Captain 
Henry Jennings, one of the pirates, and fifteen 
others, immediately followed the sloop to Bermudas, 
and surrendered themselves ; and Captain Lassie, 
Captain Nicholls, Captain Hernigold, and Captain 
Burgess surrendered soon after, with 114 of their 
men. But Vane, one of the captains of the pirates, 
knowing that Captain Eogers was coming to 
reduce them by proclamation or by force, set fire 
to a French ship of twenty-two guns which he had 
taken, in order to burn the Rose frigate, which had 
Arrived at Nassau; however, that frigate got off in 
time bjr cutting her cables. This bold and rash 
attempt could not have secured him ; for soon 
after there appeared the Milford man-of-war and 
another, on board of which was the governor, 
standing in for the harbc ir, upon which Vane, 
and about fifty of his men, made off in a sloop. 
The governor sent a sloop with a suflScient force 
after them, but they made good their escape. 

Mr. Woodes Eogers landed on the 27th of July, 
took possession of the fort, and caused his ma- 
jesty's commission to be read in the presence of 
the ofiScers, soldiers, and about three hundred 
people, whom he found there on his arrival. These 
bad been almost daily exercised in arms for their 
defence in case of an attack from the Spaniards or 



WESTEKN WORLD. 375 

French^ and as Captain Eogers brought with him 
above one hundred soldiers, these, added to the 
others, were a sufficient force to secure the Bahama 
islands. 

Eogers began at once to regulate the govern- 
ment, and to reduce it to order. He nominated 
six of the adventurers who came with him to be 
of his council, and to them he added six o!it of 
such of the inhabitants as had never been pirates. 
As soon as the governor and council had settled 
their board, about two hundred of the pirates 
surrendered themselves, received certificates of 
their surrender, and took the oath of allegiance, as 
did also the greater part of the inhabitants of 
Providence, who a few years after were computed 
at fifteen hundred persons ; out of them were 
formed three companies of militia, under officers of 
their own. These companies took their turn every 
night in the town-guard at Nassau. An inde- 
pendent company was always upon duty in the 
fort, and another fort of eight guns was erected at 
the eastern entrance into the harbour. 

By such means the face of affairs in this part of 
the w^orld was entirely changed. The town of 
Nassau was rebuilt, a regular force established, 
and plantations laid out. Soon after the neigh- 
bouring island of Eleuthera was also settled, about 
sixty families fixed themselves there, and erected a 
small fort for their defence. The like was done in 
Harbour island, where the plantation soon grew 
very considerable, and a large fort was built for the 
protection of the inhabitants. 



376 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Mr. Eogers returning to England was succeeded 
in his government by Captain FitzwilliamSj and 
ever since this last settlement these islands con- 
tinued improving, though their advance was but 
slow. 



WESTERN WORLD. 377 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Brief sketch of the formation of the Hudson's Bav company — 
Situation and extent of Hudson's bay — The company's first 
forts and factories — Their success — French jealousies and 
designs defeated — Prince Rupert's river — Mr. Dobbs' account 
of the first proceedings of the company — Religious cere- 
monies, manners, and customs of the Indians — Hunting 
excursions, anointing and cleansing — The beaver and its 
singular habits — Pensylvania — Dutch and Finlanders the first 
planters — Disputes — Admiral Penn, his friendly intercourse 
with the Indians — Distribution of land — Penn's wise admin- 
istration — Love and esteem of the Indians for Admiral Penn. 

The next corporation formed for enlarging our 
commerce, was that of the Hudson's Bay Company, 
formed by King Charles II., upon the following 
occasion '» Messrs. Radison and Gooselier, two 
Frenchmen, having met with some Indians in the 
lake of Assimponals in Canada, were informed that 
they might go by land to the bottom of the bay, 
where the English had never yet been ; whereupon 
they desired them to conduct them thither, which 
the Indians did. After this the two Frenchmen re- 
turned to the upper lake the same way they came, 
and thence to Quebec, the capital of Canada, where 
they offered the principal merchants to conduct 
ships to Hudson's bay ; but, as their project was 
rejected, they went to France in hope of a more 
favourable hearing at court. After they had pre- 



378 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

seated several memorials, and spent mucli time 
and money, their project was considered as chime- 
rical; and tbey were answered in the same manner 
r.s at Quebec. Meanwhile the English ambassa- 
dor at Paris, hearing of their proposals, imagined 
lie should do a piece of service to his country by 
engaging them to serve the English, who had al- 
ready some pretensions to the bay; he therefore 
persuaded them to go to London, where they met 
with a favourable reception from some persons of 
quality, merchants and others, who employed Mr. 
Giilam, a person long used to the New England 
trade, to perfect their discoveiy. 

Mr. Giilam sailed in the Nonsuch ketch, in the 
year 1677, into Baffin's bay, to the height of 75^, 
and from thence southward to 51^, where he en- 
tered a river, to which he gave the name of Prince 
Eupert's river, and finding the natives disposed to 
a friendly commerce, he erected a small fortress, 
v/hich he styled Charles fort. The success of this 
expedition was so remarkable, that the persons 
concerned in fitting out this vessel, upon the return 
of Mr. Giilam, applied to King Charles II. for a 
patent, who granted them one, dated the 2nd of 
May, 1670. 

Hudson's bay extends from 51° to 64° north 
latitude, and is six hundred miles in length ; and 
the mouth of the straits, which is six leagues over, 
lies in about 6V north latitude. The two opposite 
shores are called the east main and west main ; 
the former is also termed Labrador, and the latter 
New South Wales. 



"V^^ESTEEN WORLD, dv9 

The company had their first; fort on Kupert's 
river, but never any towns there ; they lived with- 
in their forts in little houses and huts^ in which 
the builders considered nothing but how to defend 
them from the cold and rain; they were, however, not 
so much disturbed by the latter as by the former. 
In 1670 another factory was established at Fort 
Kelson. Meanwhile the company, by their go- 
vernors and agents, made such contracts with the 
captains or kings of the rivers and territories round 
for enjoying an exclusive trade, that the Indians 
could not pretend they had encroached upon them. 
These contracts were as binding as the Indians 
themselves could make them, and were confirmed 
by such ceremonies as they thought most sacred 
and obligatory. 

In the year 1636, the company were in posses- 
sion of five settlements, viz., Albany river, Haye's 
island, Eupert's river, Fort Nelson, and New 
Severn, and their trade at each of them was very 
considerable. From Albany river they had gene- 
rally 3500 beavers a-year, and their commerce 
increased so much that the French began to be 
afraid that all the upland Indians would be drawn 
down to the bay. Being sensible they could do 
any thing with James II., King of England, they 
resolved to drive the English out of all their places 
in the bottom of the bay. First they took Have's 
island, and then the fort on Eupert's river, after 
which the French company at Canada procured a 
detachment of soldiers to be sent under the Che- 
valier de Troves, who marched overland from 



3 so DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Quebec, and in a time of profound peace laid 
siege to the fort at Albany river ; and, though the 
governor did all in his power to defend the place, 
he was obliged to surrender it in a week's time. 
However, about seven years after, the company, 
assisted by the government, retook all the forts and 
factories of which the French had deprived them 
in time of peace, but they were soon after driven 
out of them again. Such being the state of things, 
' in 1696 the company applied to King William, 
representing their inability to maintain themselves 
against the French, and praying the assistance of 
the crown for their support ; upon which two men- 
of-war were sent under the command of Captain 
Allen, who, coming into Haye's river, summoned 
all the forts to surrender, when the French gover- 
nor, finding he could not defend them against the 
English, capitulated, and the French were allowed 
to march out with all military honours. However, 
in the next general war, the French renewed their 
attacks upon the settlements of the Hudson's Bay 
Company, and with such success that they left 
them only Fort Albany ; but by the treaty of 
Utrecht every thing was restored to the company 
again, and an equitable satisfaction for their losses 
agreed upon. From this time their trade greatly 
increased, so that it soon became at least treble 
what it was when that peace was concluded. They 
built also, besides the above, York fort, Churchill, 
and Moose river factories. 

Moose river factory is in latitude 5V 28', near 
the mouth of the river, which; at twelve miles dis- 



A7ESTERN WORLD. 381 

tance from the fort, is divided into two branches, 
one from the south, and the other from the south- 
west. Upon the southern branch all sorts of grain 
thrive, though exposed to all the chilling winds 
that blow from the ice in the bay. Upon the 
southern part, above the falls, there grow along the 
river wild-oats and rye, which have black husks, 
though the grain is perfectly clear and white, like 
rice; the Indians beat it off when ripe into their 
canoes, as they pass along the river. In the woods 
at the bottom of the bay, at Moose, Albany, and 
Eupert's river, are very large timber-trees of all 
kinds, as oak and ash, as well as pines, cedars, and 
spruce. 

The ice breaks up at Moose factory in the be- 
gining of April, but higher up in the country in 
March. The river is navigable for canoes a great 
way up among the falls ; at a considerable distance 
there is one fall of fifty feet, but above that the 
river is deep and navigable for a great way, where 
the climate is very good. The French made a 
settlement for trade near the southern branch, 
about 100 miles above the factory, where they sold 
their goods cheaper than the company, notwith- 
standing the difficulty and expense of carrying 
them so far from Canada, and gave as much for a 
marten's skin as they did for a beaver, when w^e 
msisted upon three for one. By such means the 
French got all the choice skins, and left only the 
refase for the company. The French made also 
another house pretty high up Eupert's river, to 
gain the trade upon the East Main. 



382 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Though the bottom of the bay is as neci-r the 
line as London, it being in Si"", j^et the air is ex- 
cessivel)^ cold for nine months in the year, and the 
other three months very hot* Ho\Yever some 
fruits, as gooseberries, strawberries, and dew- 
berries, grow about Prince Eupert's river, where 
the commodities for trade are guns, powder, shot, 
cloth, hatchets, kettles, tobacco, &c., Vv'hich the 
Enghsh exchange with the Indians for furs, as 
beavers, martins, foxes, moose, and other skins. 

The Indians could find no beavers to the nortli- 
ward of Churchill river, on account of there being 
no ponds or woods proper for those animals ; but 
there are a great number of martins, bears, rein- 
deer, buffaloes, wolves^ and other animals witli 
rich furs, the country being mostly rocky and 
covered with white moss. There is a great deal of 
small wood near the factory ; but the wood im- 
proves further up the river from the bay, where 
they have juniper, birch, and poplar, and still more 
southerly the timber is larger, and there also is a 
greater variety of trees. 

Mr. Dobbs, who wrote a history of the com- 
pany's early proceedings, observed, that "The 
company avoid all they can making discoveries to 
the northward of Churchill, or extending their 
trade that way, for fear they should discover 
a passage to the western ocean of America, and 
tempt by that means the rest of the English mer- 
chants to lay open their trade, which they knovv^ 
they have no legal right to ; which, if the passage 
was found, would not )nly animate the rest of the 



WESTERN WORLD. 383 

mercliants to pursue the trade through that pas- 
sage, but also to find out the great advantages 
that might be made out of the trade of the rivers 
and countries adjoining the bay. by which means 
fhey would lose their beloved monopoly. But the 
prospect they have of gain to be made by trading 
with the Esquimaux Indians for w^hale-fins, whale 
and seal oil, and sea-horse teeth, induces them to 
venture a sloop annually as far as 62" 30', to 
\Yhale cove, w4iere these Indians meet them, and 
truck their fins and oil with them/' 

The Indians of certain districts, bounded by 
particular rivers, have each of them what they 
call an Okimah or captain, who is an old man, 
esteemed only for his prudence and experience. 
His authority, however, is only what they please to 
give him upon particular occasions. He is their 
orator when they address the English, and speaks 
for them in their own councils when they assemble 
every spring to settle their quarters for hunting, 
fowling, and fishing. They have but few religious 
sentiments. They maintain that there are tvvo 
monetoes or spirits; one who sends all good things, 
and the other all the bad. Their worship consists 
in songs and dances at their feasts, in honour of 
the monetoes who have favoured them ; but if they 
are sick, or almost famished for want of provisions, 
they hang some little bauble which they esteem 
upon the top of a pole near their tent, to pacify 
the offended spirit. As they live a rambling life, 
they can receive no benefit from tame fowl or 
cattle, for they seldom stay above a fortnight at a 



384 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

place, unless they find plenty of game. On their 
removal they build their huts, and then disperse 
to get game for their food, returning at night 
after having killed enough to support them for a 
day. In these excursions they do not proceed 
above a league or two from their huts. When 
they find any scarcity of game they remove a 
league or two farther, and thus traverse through 
these countries and bogs, scarcely missing one day's 
liunting in winter or summer, whether the weather 
be fair or foal, and going out in the greatest 
storms of snow. The smaller game, as martens, 
squirrels, ermines, taken by traps or snares, are 
generally the employment of women and children ; 
while the elks or moose-deer, stags, bears, wild 
oxen, wolves, foxes, beavers, otters, are the employ- 
ment of the men. But when the Indians kill any 
game for food, they. leave it upon the spot, and the 
next day send their wives to fetch it home ; direct- 
ing them to the place by breaking off branches 
from the trees, and laying them in the road, 
pointing to the place where they should go ; and 
sometimes they scatter moss, so that they never 
miss finding it. It is observable that the trees in 
these regions all bend towards the south, and that 
the branches on that side are larger and stronger 
than those on the north side; this is also the case 
with respect to the moss that grows upon the trees. 
When the Indians go abroad in winter to hunt 
and shoot for their daily food, before they dress 
they rub themselves all over with bear s grease or 
oil of beavers, which does not freeze. They also 



WESTERN WORLD. 385 

grease the fur of their beaver coats before they put 
them on. They have a kind of boot or stocking 
made of beaver's skin, well oiled, with the fur 
inwards, and above them they have an oilskin 
laced about their feet, which keeps out the cold 
and water, where there is neither ice nor snow. 
In summer, when they go naked, they also rub 
themselves with oil or grease, which, as it keeps 
their skins soft and supple, prevents their being 
scorched by exposing themselves to the sun, and 
liinders them from being molested by flies and 
mosquitoes, and other noxious insects. When 
they want to get rid of it, they go into the water 
and rub themselves all over with mud or clay, then, 
letting it dry upon them, they rub it off; but, when- 
ever they are free from the oil, the flies and mos- 
quitoes immediately attack them. 

They use no milk from the time they are weaned, 
and have an aversion to cheese, from the opinion 
that it is made of dead men's fat. They love 
prunes and raisins, and wiD give a beaver's skin 
for twelve of them, to carry to their children ; they 
will give the same for a Jew's harp, or for the 
smallest print or picture, and all toys are consider- 
ed by them as jewels, 

A large beaver, or castor, is about twenty-six 
inches long from the hind part of the head to the 
root of the tail, and is about three feet eight inches 
round. Its head is about seven inches long, and 
six broad; and its tail, which is somewhat of an 
oval form, and covered with scales, is fourteen 
inches long, and six broad. Its ears are short and 

2c 



386 DISCOVEKIES IN THE 

round ; its eyes are small, and it has two fore teeth 
in each jaw, about an inch long, which are ex- 
tremely sharp and strong. Though its legs are 
but five inches long, its feet are above six inches in 
length, and its paws formed like a man s hand ; 
only the toes of the hind-feet are joined like 
those of a duck, with a membrane of a slate colour. 
It makes use of its paw in feeding as apes do, and 
in building its house. 

The beavers seldom leave the side of the pond 
where they have built their kennels; upon the 
least noise they dive under water, and return to 
their little houses when danger is over. 

They are of three colours, some of a reddish- 
brown, others black, and others white. Those of 
each pond are represented by some writers as 
forming a commonwealth ; as having an excellent 
polity and laws ; and as holding frequent consul- 
tations for their mutual defence. It is probable, 
however, these accounts are greatly exaggerated ; 
still their sagacity is universally allowed to be 
very extraordinary, and the manner of building 
their houses has been always a subject of admira- 
tion to the curious. The following is said not to 
be an exaggerated account of this interesting work. 

The beavers, having found a rivulet that runs 
across a low ground, make banks that stop the 
course of the water, and cause an inundation that 
is sometimes six miles in circumference. This 
bank they make with trees, which they cut down 
with their teeth, and then drag along as they swim in 
the water. The trees being arranged along the bot- 



WESTERN WORLD. 387 

torn of the low ground, the animals load themselves 
with grass and earth, which they drag along upon 
their great tails, and throw in between the wood 
with such art and industry, that it would be very 
difficult, if not impossible, for man to make a 
stronger wall with the same materials. Their tails 
serve them both for carts and trowels, and their 
teeth for axes ; their paws supply the place of 
hands, and their feet serve instead of oars. In 
short, in the space of five or six months, about a 
hundred of these animals will make a bank of four 
or five hundred yards in length, of twenty in height, 
and seven or eight in thickness. The pond being 
completed, they build their houses near the centre, 
by making holes at the bottom of the water for 
planting six posts, upon which each of their edifices 
is built in a most curious manner, with branches 
of trees, weeds, and earth. Some say they have 
three stories, that they may mount up from one to 
the other when the waters rise by rains or thaw ; 
and that each beaver has an apartment to himself, 
which he enters under water through a great hole 
in the first floor, that has a communication with 
the two other rooms ; but this is not true. 

The chief food of the beaver is the poplar, but 
they also eat fallows, alders, and most other trees 
that have not a resinous j uice, feeding on the middle 
bark. In May, when wood is not abundant, they 
live upon a large root, a fathom long, which grows 
in the marshes, and is as thick as a man's leg; but 
at this time the beavers are not so good eating as 
when they feed upon bark. They will cut down 



388 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

with their teath trees that are very thick ; and 
when one of them observes that the tree is ready- 
to fall, he gives a loud cry, and runs the contrary 
way, followed by the rest. They then cut off ali 
the twigs and smaller branches, and draw them to 
their houses in the ponds ; and, having repaired 
their pond-head, they thrust one end of these sticks 
into the clay or mud, that they may lie under 
water all the winter, to preserve the bark green 
and tender for their winter provisions. In this 
manner they serve both the smaller and larger 
branches, till they come to the trunk of the tree. 

Beavers are excellent food, but the tongue and 
tail are the most delicious parts. They bring forth 
their young in the beginning of summer, when the 
females are very lean from feeding them; the males 
also are lean all the summer, during which they 
are employed in repairing their ponds and houses, 
and in cutting down and providing wood and 
branches for their winter store, but they are very 
fat from November till the end of March. They 
breed once in a year, and have from ten to fifteen 
at a litter, which grow up in one season ; they 
therefore multiply very fast. If the Indians empty 
a pond, and take the whole lodge, they generally 
leave a pair to breed, by which it is again fully 
stocked in two or three years' time. A good hunter 
among the Indians can kill six hundred beavers 
in a season, but their canoes are so small that they 
can bring only one hundred. They therefore some- 
times burn off the fur, and roast the beavers like 
pigs. 



WESTERN WOKLD. 389 

The next colony that was settled in America 
was that of Pennsylvania, the best projected, and 
for a time the most flourishing, of all the colonies 
once belonging to the English in North America. 
Admiral Penn, who, in conjunction with Colonel 
Venables, conquered the island of Jamaica, and 
was afterwards knighted, being in high credit with 
King Charles II. and the Duke of York, had the 
promise of a grant of this country from the former 
as a reward for his past services ; and, some years 
after his death, his son strenuously solicited the 
promised grant, as the king owed considerable sums 
to his father : he obtained the grant in the year 
] 679, but the original patent was dated the 4th of 
March, 1680. Penn afterwards obtained part of 
Nova Belgia, or the province of New York, which 
was added to the country he had acquired by the 
first grant, and both together, from his own name, 
he called Pennsylvania, or Penn's country. 

But before we proceed, it may be necessary just 
to observe, that the Dutch were the first planters 
here as well as at New York, and, living near the 
bay in the neighbourhood of that province, applied 
themselves chiefly to trade. Afterw^ards some of 
the inhabitants of Finland, settled near the Freshes 
of Delawar,* where they applied themselves to 
husbandry, and had a governor appointed them by 
their own sovereign, the King of Sweden. Between 
these two neighbours frequent disputes arose^ till 

-' The river Delawar, above and below the Falls, is for a con- 
siderable length called the Freshes, and near the mouth are 
marshes, which are extremely fertile. 



390 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

the Dutch growing too powerful for the Swedes, the 
latter submitted to their stronger neighbours, and 
th^ Swedish governor made a formal surrender of 
the country to the governor for the States-general ; 
after which this province continued subject to that 
republic till the English drove the Dutch out 6T 
New York. It was this circumstance that ren- 
dered the possession of those territories the more 
easy to Mr. Penn. 

Before Penn sent over the first adventurers 
under his patent, there were some few English in 
Pennsylvania, over whom he placed as governor 
Colonel William Markham, his nephew, and to him 
both the Swedes and Dutch submitted. Mr. Penn 
had the more earnestly solicited the above gmnt 
on account of the pei^ecution of the dissenters, and 
especially from finding his friends, the Quakers, 
harassed all over England by the spiritual courts^ 
he himself having been many times thrown into 
prison, not only for preaching, but for merely 
being present at their assemblies. He therefore 
resolved to put himself at the head of as many as 
would go with him, and remove to this country; 
but first he sent over a body of settlers from 
London, Liverpool, and Bristol, who purchased 
considerable quantities of land at the rate of twenty 
pounds for a thousand acres, paying a small quit- 
rent. Male and female servants were to have fifty 
acres when their time was out, and the owners of 
land fifty acres a head for such servants. In order 
to secure the new planters from the Indians, he 
appointed commissioners to confer with them about 



WESTERN WORLD. 391 

the land, and to confirm a league of peace: by 
these first adventurers he also sent a very affec- 
tionate and friendly letter to the native Indians, 
and the same year went to Pennsylvania himself, 
taking with him a great number of people, who, 
•with those that immediately followed, amounted to 
two thousand persons. 

As soon as he arrived, Penn took the govern- 
ment into his own hands, entered into a treaty of 
peace with the Indian kings, and, instead of taking 
advantage of his patent, purchased of them the 
lands he had obtained by his grant. He then 
settled the constitution and laws of the country, 
w^ith the consent of the inhabitants, by whom it 
was unanimously agreed, according to the funda- 
mental constitution of Pennsylvania, which he 
himself had drawn up and published in England, 
that all persons who acknowledged the existence 
of God should enjoy free liberty of conscience, 
and have the full enjoyment of civil liberty; and 
that no laws should be made there, nor money 
raised, but by consent of the inhabitants, who 
were also allowed to enact what laws they pleased 
for the prosperity and security of the province. 
He established courts of justice in every county, 
with proper officers, to prevent lawsuits and 
contentions; three peace-makers also were chosen 
by every county-court, who were to be common 
arbitrators, to hear and put an end to all the 
differences that arose between man and man; he 
also ordained that every spring and autumn an 
orphan's court should be held in each county, to 



392 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

inspect and regulate the affairs of widows and 
orphans. 

Here William Penn stayed two years, till he had 
settled every thing to his own and his people's 
satisfaction, during which time he behaved in such 
a manner to the Indians, that he inspired them 
with a most extraordinary love and esteem both 
for himself and his colony ; so that long after they 
used to speak of him with the utmost gratitude 
and affection, and, whenever they would express an 
extraordinary regard for any Englishman, they 
said, " We esteem and love you as if you were 
that good man William Penn himself." 



WESTEKIiJ WOKLD. , 393 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Plan for settling the province of Georgia— Mr. Oglethorpe^s 
strict discipline, and its good results— The Creek Indians — 
Interesting interview — Several Indian chiefs visit England — 
Presentation at the court of King George I. — Terms of trade 
with the Indians settled — No spirits to be imported — No negro 
labour — Ports built — Trade extended — Designs of the Span- 
iards — Mr. Oglertiorpe's treaty — Grants — The conspiracy — 
French envy — Mr. Oglethorpe's sound judgment — His jour- 
ney to the Indians without escort — Security of the colony — 
Nova Scotia — Sir Samuel Argall's cruise — Scotch colonists — 
Newfoundland — Proposal of the Earl of Halifax — Grant of 
land to discharged soldiers and sailors — Large embarkation — 
Building of the town of Halifax — Small parties — Dangers — 
Admiral Boscawen — Description of Nova Scotia. 

Early in the year 1732, some persons of great 
distinction and influence in these kingdoms having 
observed that considerable numbers of people, by a 
variety of misfortunes, were rendered incapable of 
subsisting in such a way as to be useful to them- 
selves and the community, formed a design of 
settling that part of America which formed at the 
time our frontier towards the Spaniards and the 
French, and which, though within the bounds of 
the province of Carolina as already described, was 
in reality no part of it It had not been at all 
settled; and for this reason was rather a burden than 
an advantage to the province to which it was con- 



31)4 DISCOVERIES IX THE 

tigaous. They therefore applied to the crown for 
sufficient powers to set this undertaking on foot ; 
and, having met with all the encouragement they 
could desire, easily obtained a very extensive 
charter. Their next care was to raise a fund 
sufficient for sending over a considerable number 
of people, and providing them with all kinds of 
necessaries, towards which they subscribed liberally 
themselves, and obtained considerable sums by 
way of collection. They had also a grant from 
parliament of £10,000. 

In laying the plan for this frontier settlement, it 
was resolved to consider each settler in a double 
capacity, as a planter and as a soldier, -and to pro- 
vide them all with arms for their defence, as well 
as tools for the cultivation of the land, and to have 
them taught the use of both. It was also resolved 
that, upon the first settling of the colony, towns 
should be laid out, and lands allotted to each man 
for his support, as near those towns as possible. 
It was agreed that every lot of land should consist 
of fifty acres, and that it should be granted in tail- 
male as the best tenure for the colony in its 
infancy ; with respect to any hardships that might 
arise from this tenure, they determined to remedy 
them occasionally, till such time as the condition 
of the colony should render an alteration necessary ; 
they also determined to prohibit negroes, the use 
of them being absolutely inconsistent with the 
design of forming a frontier colony, and in many 
respects inconvenient and dangerous. 

When these arrangements were completed^ i 



V/ESTERN WOELDc 395 

"was resolved to send over one hundred and four- 
teen persons, men, women, and cliildreUj out of 
such as were in low circumstances, and unable to 
follow any business in England, and who, if in 
debt, had to obtain leave fr,om their creditors to go. 
Of such as were recommended by the minister, 
church-wardens, and overseers of their respective 
parishes, James Oglethorpe, Esq., one of the 
trustees, offered to go as director, and form a settle- 
ment at his own expense. 

On the 24th of October 1732, the people were 
all examined whether any of them had any objec- 
tions to the terms and conditions proposed ; they 
declared that they were fully satisfied with them, 
and executed articles under their hands and seals 
testifying their consent ; but as four of them desired 
their daughters might inherit, as well as their sons, 
and that their widows' dower might be considered, 
the trustees at once resolved that every person 
who should desire the same should have the privi- 
lege of naming a successor to the lands granted 
him ; who, in case the possessor should die without 
issue male, should hold the same for themselves 
and their heirs for ever ; and that the widows 
should have their thirds, as in England. This re- 
solution was immediately communicated to all the 
people, who expressed themselves fully satisfied. 

The trustees then prepared a form of govern- 
ment, and established under their seal a court of 
judicature for trying causes, as well criminal as 
civil, in the town of Savannah, the name given to 
the first town to be raised ; they also appointed a 



396 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

bainflf and a recorder, two constables and two 
tithing men, out of such of the settlers as appeared 
most prudent and discreet. 

When these measures were taken, Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe went to Gravesend on the 15th of November, 
1732, and thence sailed for Carolina, where he 
arrived Vv^ith the colony on the 15th of January- 
following. They were received at Charlestown, 
by the governor, with great kindness and civility ; 
when Mr. Middleton, the king s pilot, was ordered 
to steer the ship into Port Eoyal, and to convey 
the small craft, with the colony, thence to the river 
Savannah. On the 18th Mr. Oglethorpe went on 
shore upon French's island, and left a guard upon 
John's, a point of that island which commands the 
channel, and which is about half-w^ay between 
Beaufort and the river Savannah. Mr. Oglethorpe 
then went to Beaufort town, where he was saluted 
w^ith a discharge of artillery, and had a new barrack 
fitted up ; here the colony landed on the 20th, and 
were cheerfully assisted by the officers and gentle- 
men of the neighbourhood Thence he went to 
view the Savannah river, and having pitched upon 
a convenient spot of ground ten miles up, the town 
was marked out, and the first house begun on the 
9th of February, 1733. 

The chief reasons that determined Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe in the choice of this place were, health, 
pleasure, and convenience. Before his arrival in 
the country it had the name of Yammacraw, from 
an Indian nation w^ho inhabited there, under the 
command of their chief Tomochichi, who readily 



WESTERN WORLD. 397 

gave place to the English, and entered into a close 
friendship with them, which was the more agree- 
able, as there was no other Indian nation within 
fifty miles. Mr. Oglethorpe called the town 
Savannah, from the name of the river. 

While the town was building, Mr. Oglethorpe 
kept up strict discipline ; none of the people were 
allowed to swear or get drunk ; they were debarred 
the use of spirituous liquors, and instead of rum had 
English beer. As the work was going forwards, 
some of the land was ploughed up, part of which 
was sowed with wheat. At the same time, two or 
three gardens were sowed with pot-herbs, &c., and 
several fruit-trees planted. The limits of the town 
were also marked out, and every thing went forward 
v/ith the greatest regularity. 

Things being now in a forward state, and every 
man appointed to his proper station and employ- 
ment, Mr. Oglethorpe set out for Charlestown to 
soKcit aid for his colony, where both the assembly 
and people in general contributed largely to the 
assistance of the new-comers. Five hundred pounds 
of the. money so obtained, Mr. Oglethorpe imme- 
diately laid out in cattle, and, having given direc-= 
tioiiS for providing at Charlestown what his people 
might have occasion for, he went back to Savannah. 

Otx his return, he found that the chief men of 
the Lower Creek Indians had come to treat for an 
alliance with the new colony. These Lower Creeks 
are a nation that formerly consisted of ten, but at 
this time were reduced to eight tribes, each having 
a different government, but allied together and 



398 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

speaking the same language. Their territories 
extended from the Savannah river as far as St. 
Angustin, and up Flint river, which falls into the 
bay of Mexico. Tomochichi and the Indians of 
Yammacraw were of the same nation. 

Mr. Oglethorpe received the Indians in one of 
his new houses. They consisted of the chiefs and 
\var-captains of the several tribes, and their atten- 
dants ; and, when all were seated, Oueekachumpa, a 
very tall old man, stood up and made a speech, 
which was interpreted by Mr. Wigan and Mr. 
JIusgrove. He first claimed all the land to the 
southward of the river Savannah as belonging to 
the Creek Indians, and then added, that though 
they were but poor and ignorant, He that had given 
the English breath had given them breath also, 
though he had bestowed more wisdom on the white 
men — that they were all j)ersuaded that the Great 
Power who dwelt in heaven and all around (at 
which he spread out his hands and lengthened the 
sound of his words), had sent the English thither 
for the instruction of themselves, their wives, and 
their children ; that therefore they freely gave up 
to them their right to all the land they did not use 
themselves — that this was not his opinion only, but 
the opinion of the eight towns of the Creeks, each 
of whom, having consulted together, had sent some 
of their chief men with skins, which was their wealth. 
The chief men, at this part of the speech, brought 
a. bundle of buck-skins^, and laid eight from the 
eight towns before Mr. Oglethorpe. Oueekachumpa 
then said that these were the best things they had, 



WESTERN WORLD. 399 

and that they gave them with a good heart. He 
thanked him for his kindness to Tomochichi^ to 
whom he said he was related, who, though he had 
been banished from his nation, was a good man, 
and had been a great warrior, and that for his wis- 
dom and justice the banished men had chosen him 
Mico, or king. He concluded by saying that he 
had heard the Oherokees had killed some English- 
men ; and that, if Mr. Oglethorpe would command 
them, they would enter with their whole force into 
the Cherokee country, destroy their harvest, kill the 
people, and take revenge for the English. 

When he had done speaking, Tomochichi came 
in with the Yammacraw Indians, and, making a 
low obeisance, said — " I was a banished man, and 
came here, poor and helpless, to look for good land 
]iear the tombs of my ancestors ; and when you the 
English came to this place, I feared you would 
drive us away, for we were weak and wanted corn ; 
but you confirmed our land to us and gave us 
food." Then the chiefs of the other nations made 
speeches to the same purpose as Oueekachurapa, 
after which a treaty of alliance and trade was 
agreed to and signed by Mr. Oglethorpe, and also 
by the Indians. When this was done, a laced coat, 
a laced hat, and a shirt were given to each king. 
Each of the warriors had a gun and a mantle of 
duffle, and all their attendants had given to them 
coarse cloth for clothing and other things. 

W^hen this treaty was concluded, Mr. Oglethorpe 
returned to England to procure the necessary sup- 
plies. He arrived here in June, 1734, bringing 



400 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

with him Tomochichi, Mico or king of the Yamma- 
craws; Senawki his consort, and Yoonakowi his 
nephew ; also Hillispilli, a war captain, and Apa- 
kowtski, Stimaletchi, Sintouchi, Hinguithi, and 
Umphychi, five other Indian chiefs^ with their 
interpreter. 

These Indians were lodged at the Georgia oflSce 
in Old Palace yard, where they were handsomely 
entertained ; and, shortly after their arrival, they 
were introduced to King George I., who was then 
at Kensington. Tomochichi presented to the king 
several eagles' feathers, which according to their 
custom was the most respectful gift he could offer, 
and he then made the following speech — "This 
day I see the majesty of your face, the greatness 
of your house, and the number of your people. I 
come for the good of the whole nation called the 
Greeks, to renew the peace they have long ago con- 
cluded with the English. I am come over in my 
old days, and though I cannot live to reap any ad- 
vantage to myself, I am come for the good of the 
children of all the nations of the Upper and Lower 
Creeks, that they may be instructed in the know- 
ledge of the English. These are the feathers of 
the eagle, the swiftest of all birds which fly round 
our nations. These feathers are in our land a sign 
of peace, and we have brought them over to leave 
with you, great king ! as a sign of everlasting 
peace. great king ! whatsoever words you shall 
say unto me, I will tell them faithfully to all the 
kings of the Creek nations.'' In answer to this 
speech his majesty assured him that all those 



WESTERN WORLD, 401 

nations should have his protection and sincere 
regard. 

These Indians afterwards made a tour through 
the kingdom, and, during their stay in England, 
gave the most evident marks of good sense, and of 
a sincere inclination to carry on a friendly corre- 
spondence between their own nation and ours. 
They particularly desired the trustees, that the 
weights, measures, prices, and qualities of goods to 
be purchased by them with their deer-skins might 
be settled ; that nobody might be allow^ed to trade 
with them without a licence from the trustees, that 
if they were injured they might know where to 
complain ; that there might be but one store- 
house in each Indian town, for supplying them 
with the goods they might want to purchase ; and 
that in each the traders should be obliged to supply 
them at fixed prices. They alleged that the 
trad'crs had often in an arbitrary manner raised 
the price of goods, and defrauded them in their 
weights and measures ; and that this had fre- 
quently created animosities between the English 
and the Indians, that had ended in wars preju- 
dicial to both nations. 

In compliance with this request, the trustees 
procured several acts of parliament ; one for 
maintaining peace with these Indians ; another to 
prevent the importation and use of spirituous 
liofuors into the province of Georgia ; and another 
to prevent the introduction of negroes into that 
province. 

When these things were thus settled, two em- 

2d 



492 [DiscoYErjES in the 

barkatioDS were made the same year, chiefly of 
Saltzburghers, who, with others that went before, 
built and settled a town, called Ebenezer, upon the 
river Savannah. The next year^.the colony of 
South Carolina sent over a memorial relative to 
the danger they were in from the French and 
Spaniards, w^hen parliament granted the trustees au 
extraordinary supply of £26,000, and very consi- 
derable benefactions were made both in England 
and Carolina: great numbers of people were sent 
out, consisting mostly of persecuted German Pro- 
testants, and others from the north of Scotland. 

In January, 1735, some Highlanders arrived in 
Georgia, and settled on the Alatamaha river, about 
sixteen miles distant from the island of St. Simon, 
which is at its mouth. They soon raised con- 
venient huts till their houses could be built, and 
the town at their own desire was called Darien^ 
which name that district still retains, though they 
afterwards changed the name of the town to that 
of New Inverness. 

On the 6th of February following, arrived the 
great embarkation, consisting of four hundred and 
seventy persons, under the direction of Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe, which settled upon the island of St. Simon. 
The Creek Indians came down upon this occasion, 
and, in consequence of claiming a right to the 
country, were treated with, when they agreed that 
the English should possess that and all the adja- 
cent islands ; which necessary step being taken^ 
the town of Frederica was laid out, and the people 
set to work in building houses. 



WESTERN WORLD. 403 

The island of St. Simon is conveniently situated 
at the mouth of the Alatamaha^ a very fine river ; 
it is about forty miles in extent ; has a rich and 
fruitful soil, and is fnll of oak and hickory trees, 
intermixed with meadows. 

As soon as this settlement was made, care was 
taken for its security, on account of its being the 
southern barrier. A regular fortress, strengthened 
with four bastions and spur-work, was erected at 
Frederica, towards the river, and several pieces of 
cannon mounted upon it. A strong battery was 
also raised for the protection of J^kyll sound, 
where ten or twelve forty-gun ships may safely ride. 
Another fort was built on the south-west part of 
Cumberland island, where several pieces of cannon 
were pointed towards the river, so as to command 
all the sloops and small craft navigating that 
passage: within the palisade which suiTounded 
the fort were fine springs of water, and a good 
timber house, with large and convenient maga- 
zines under it, for ammunition and provisions. 

But while such care was taken of the south 
frontier, the northern part of the colony was not 
neglected : orders were given for erecting a fort at 
Augusta, a place situated on the river Savannah, 
where the traders with the Indians from South 
Carolina and Georgia resorted, and where there 
were large warehouses furnished with such goods 
as were wanted by the Indians. The deer-skins 
taken in exchange were sent two hundred and 
thirty miles down the river, to the town of 
Savannah, in boats that carried each about three 



404 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

or four tons weight. A horse-road was also made 
thence to the town of Savannah, and to the 
dwellings of the Cherokee Indians. By these pre- 
cautions the trade of both colonies with these 
Indians was facilitated, and the country on that 
side secured from any further hostile attempts. 

The colony naw became so considerable as not 
only to draw the attention, but to excite the jea- 
lousy of the Spaniards, who would have been glad 
to have overpowered and driven out their neigh- 
bours ; but, as the Indians were strongly attached 
to the English, the governor of St. Augustin, upon 
mature deliberation, found it more expedient to 
enter into a negotiation, and to endeavour to con- 
clude an amicable agreement with the English 
colony. In consequence, Mr. Oglethorpe concluded 
a treaty with him, upon very safe and advantageous 
terms; in which it was mutually agreed, that 
neither the Indians subject to the King of Spain 
should attack the subjects of Great Britain, nor the 
Creeks commit hostilities against the subjects of 
his Catholic majesty of Spain. That Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe should draw off the garrison and artillery 
from the island of St. George, provided that none 
of his Catholic majesty's subjects should inhabit 
it, and that no prejudice should thence arise to the 
right of his Britannic majesty to that island. 
That the subjects of neither crown should molest 
each other; and that the differences that might 
arise concerning the limits of their respective 
governments, and the dominion of the two crowns, 
should remain undecided till the determination of 



WESTERN WOKLD.- 405 

the respective courts. It seem S3 however, that the 
governor of St. Angustin was not in the secret of 
his court ; for the Spanish ministry laid claim to 
Georgia as being within the dominion of Spain, 
and began to transport troops into Spanish Florida 
"from the island of Cuba, and other parts of their 
dominions. They disapproved of the treaty con- 
cluded by the governor of St. Augustin, and made 
open preparations in order to attack the- colony of 
Georgia. 

These preparations soon came to the knowledge 
of the lieutenant-governor of South Carolina, who 
sent a memorial to his majesty, upon which he was 
pleased to order a regiment of six hundred effective- 
men to be raised, and sent for the defence and 
protection of Georgia ; and, as a further encourage- 
ment to these soldiers, the trustees gave each of 
them an allotment of five acres of land to cultivate 
for their own use and benefit. It was also resolved 
that each soldier, after being seven years in the 
service, should he be desirous of quitting it, should 
have his regular discharge, and be entitled to a 
grant of twenty acres of land. 

In the beginning of the year 1737, parliament 
considering the great expenses the trustees had 
been at, in making roads, building fortifications, 
and sending presents to the Indians, granted them 
an additional £20,000 for the further settling and 
securing of the colony. The trustees upon this 
made another embarkation, chiefly of persecuted 
German Protestants ; and, in consequence of so 
considerable an augmentation of people, all the 



406 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

towns laid out in Georgia received great supplies^, 
and the utmost care was taken to put the fortifi- 
cations into the best posture of defence that the 
circumstances of the province would allow. 

On the arrival of this regiment, Mr. Oglethorpe, 
who had been appointed colonel, distributed the men 
■ in the best manner for the service of the colony ; 
but still kept up the same discipline, and took as 
much care as ever to form and regulate the in- 
habitants with respect to military affairs. He also 
provided different corps for different services ; some 
for ranging the woods, and others light-armed for 
sudden expeditions, and likewise provided vessels 
for scouring the sea-coast, and gaining intelligence. 
The trustees, by their letters and instructions to 
the magistrates, had constantly exhorted and en- 
couraged the people to cultivate their lands ; but 
in 1738, finding that there were many who still 
continued idle, and were a burden to the colony, 
they gave orders for striking off the store all who, 
having had time to cultivate their lands, neglected 
so important a duty; at length part of the people 
sent over a memorial to the trustees, complaining 
of the want of a fee-simple in their lands, and of 
not being permitted the use of negroes. But those 
who were settled on the frontier, and consequently 
most exposed to the Spaniards, having by their 
industry improved their plantations, so as to draw 
from them a comfortable subsistence, sent over a 
counter memorial, wherein they represented the 
disadvantages and dangers that would arise from 
the permission of negro labour. 



WESTERN WORLD. 407 

At this very time Mr. Oglethorpe and his 
council had intelligence that a conspiracy was 
formed by the negroes in South Carolina, to rise 
and forcibly make their way out of the province, 
in order to put themselves under the protection of 
the Spaniards, who had proclaimed freedom to all 
who should run away from their owners. As there 
was great reason to believe that this rising was to 
be universal, and as the negroes were computed at 
40^000, while the white inhabitants did not exceed 
5000, the whole province was upon its guard. 
However, several negroes who were employed in 
Periaguas carried themselves off, and took the 
benefit of the proclamation by going to St. 
Augustin, upon which the government of South 
Carolina sent a solamn deputation to demand their 
slaves ; and though this was a time of profound 
peace, the governor of St. Augustin peremptorily 
refused to deliver them up, and even declared that 
he had orders to receive and protect all who should 
come to him. Upon these representations, the 
trustees sent an answer, in which they positively 
refused to suffer the colony to have the use of 
slaves. 

The trustees had the strongest reason for acting 
in this manner ; since, among the persons to whom 
grants had been made for settling in the colony 
at their own expense, some never went over to 
take them up ; others were gentlemen of Carolina, 
who never so much as desired to have their lands 
laid out; and several had quitted the laborious 
life of planters to reside more at their ease at 



408 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

Savannah, where, by the exercise of their several 
trades and professions, they brought many people 
into their debt. Besides all this, horse-races and 
other diversions were set on foot^ and such a spirit 
of idleness began to prevail, as easily accounted for 
their eagerness in desiring to have the use of 
negsroes ; and plainly showed with what fatal con- 
sequences it must have been attended, if the 
trustees had not remained firm to their first reso- 
lutions, and had not given such an answer as 
shewed they were resolved to preserve the same 
spirit in the colony upon which it was first settled. 
However, to make the people as easy and con- 
tented as they could^ they enlarged their grants 
on failure of issue male, and made a certain pro- 
vision for widows. 

Meantime the French, uneasy at the settlement 
of Georgia, and our intercourse with the Indians, 
began to make use of every method in order to 
raise jealousies between us and the Creeks; and 
when this was known, it greatly alarmed not only 
the people settled in Georgia, but the whole pro- 
vince of Carolina, from a just sense of the danger 
to which they would be exposed, if the Fr^ich, 
either by artifice or presents, should draw over 
the Creek Indians to their party. Mr. Oglethorpe 
thought it necessary to enter into a closer alliance 
with the Indians, and to take a journey to the 
Coweta town, though at the distance of not less 
than five hundred miles from Frederica, where he 
then was, and through a country very little known, 
and very difficult for Europeans to travel. He 



WESTERN WORLD. 409 

provided himself with horses and presents, and 
after a painful and fatiguing journey reached that 
place in safety. He was received by the Indians 
with all imaginable marks of friendship and respect, 
and had an opportunity of conferring, not only 
with the chiefs of all the tribes of that nation, 
but also with the deputies of the Choctaws and 
Chickesaws, who lie between the English and 
French settlements, and who had sent their de- 
puties thither for that purpose. 

His coming to the Coweta town dissipated all 
the fears, and extinguished all the jealousies of 
the Indians. They told him at the first conference, 
that it had been insinuated to them that he was 
coming into that country to deprive them of their 
lands, and that they had been assured he was 
actually preparing to invade them ; but that, by 
the entire confidence he placed m them, by coming 
without a body of regular troops, he convinced 
them that these were all falsehoods and calumnies, 
and that, instead of injuring them, the settlement 
he was making would prove a new security to 
them, as well as to the English, and put it out of 
the power of their common enemies to hurt them ; 
in short, they readily concluded a new, a fuller, 
and more explicit treaty with him. Thus the 
designs of the French were frustrated, and the 
Creek nation became more closely connected with 
the English. 

We are now brought by the order of time to the 
settlement of Nova Scotia, or Acadia. This coun- 
try was, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, considered 



410 DISCO YE RTES IN THE 

as a part of Virginia, and as such was included in 
the charter of the Western company, established by 
King James I. 

In the year 1618, Sir Samuel Argall, governor 
of Virginia, made a cruising voyage along the 
coast northwards, as far as Cape Cod, in New 
England, when the Indians informed him that 
some white men, like himself, were come to inhabit 
to the northward of them. As Sir Samuel was 
sensible that all the country, as far as it had been 
discovered by Cabot, belonged to the Virginia 
company, he sailed thither, and, to his surprise, 
found a settlement, with a French ship riding be- 
fore it. This vessel having but one deck, Sir 
Samuel soon drove the men from it with his small 
arms, and, having taken it, landed his men, marched 
to the fort, and summoned it to surrender. The 
French asked time to consider ; but this being 
denied, they got privately away, and fled into the 
v70ods. The English then entered the place, and 
having lodged there that night, the French came 
the next day and surrendered themselves, can- 
celing the patents that had been granted for their 
settlement by the French king. Sir Samuel nov/ 
permitted those who chose, to stay and take a pas- 
sage to Europe in the fishing vessels which then fre- 
quented that coast, and the rest, who were willing to 
join with the English, he took with him to Virginia. 

Sir Samuel after this was informed that the 
French had another settlement at a place they 
called Port Royal, situated on a bay on the south- 
west coast of Acadia ; thither he sailed also with- 



YfKSTEEN WORLD. 411 

out delay, and obliged tbem to surrender ; when, 
resolving that they should quit the country, he 
made those who did not care to return home re- 
move to the river St. Lawrence, where Quebec, 
now the capital of Canada, was afterwards built. 

In the year 1621, Sir William Alexander, after- 
wards created Earl of Stirling, applied to King 
James I. for a grant of the country to the north of 
New England. It was suggested to King James, 
that the tract of country on the continent of North 
America, belonging to the crown, being very large, 
and not likely to be planted by the English in any 
reasonable time, it would be a very wise and pru- 
dent measure to grant, under the great seal of 
Scotland, a part of it to his subjects of that kingdom, 
upon the supposition that it would be more 
beneficial to them, and more for tlie interest of 
these kingdoms, if they went over and settled there, 
than if, as was frequently the case, they removed 
to Poland, Sweden, and Russia, where there were 
at that time many thousands of Scots families. 

These reasons appeared of such weight to King 
James, that he readily granted a patent to Sir 
William, and the next year he, and some others 
who were concerned with him, sent a ship with 
passengers to plant and settle there. 

At this time Newfoundland was well known on 
account of its fishery, and Sir William's ship 
being ]ate in her voyage, put in, and wintered 
there. In 1623 they sailed from thence, and made 
the Cape at the north shore of the island of Cape 
Breton, and coasting till they came to Cape Sable 



412 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

in Acadia, found three good harbours, and went 
ashore at one of them, which they called St. Luke's 
bay. There they found a large river, that had 
eight fathoms water at ebb, and having sailed up 
it, the ship returned to England, and the proprie- 
tors published an account of the country, which 
they described as a kind of paradise. Sir William 
Alexander himself wrote and published a book 
on the subject, and King James, in order to 
facilitate this plantation, created a new order called 
the Knights of Nova Scotia. 

Thus the country, called by the French Acadia, 
obtained the name of Nova Scotia or New Scot- 
land, from the Scots who intended to settle there ; 
but the scheme of the settlement was unhappily 
turned into a job, and by this means defeated. 
Afterwards another grant was made of the northern 
part of the country to Sir David Kirk, from whom 
the French king bought it, or at least agreed to give 
c£^5000 for it. Though it is evident this proprie- 
tor, at the time, had no more right to dispose of 
the property of the crown in that country, than a 
nobleman in England had to dispose of his estate 
to the French king ; yet this negotiation is an 
evident proof that the French acknowledged the 
right by which that proprietor held it, and they 
had such an opinion of the weakness of King James, 
as to be in no apprehension of his vindicating the 
inalienable rights of his own nation. 

Oliver Cromwell, however, sent Major Sedgwick 
to dislodge the French from Port Eoyal ; and 
though he afterwards consented that a French 



AYESTEEN WORLD. 413 

proprietor should enjoy the country, yet it was 
upon condition that he should purchase it of the 
Earl of Stirling, which he afterwards did, and then 
sold it to Sir Thomas Temple, who was both pro- 
prietor and governor at the restoration. After 
this the French settled there again, and con- 
tinued in the quiet possession of the country till 
the year 1690, when they were dispossessed by Sir 
William Phipps, governor of New England. This 
colony, however, was afterwards given up again 
to the French by King William III. at the treaty 
of Eyswick. 

In all these changes the island of Cape Breton 
followed the fate of Nova Scotia, and both con- 
tinued in the hands of the French until the year 
1710, when governor Nicholson made himself 
master of Port Eoyal, which was then a place of 
great consequence, as it gave the French an oppor- 
tunity of distressing our trade to such a degree 
that it was properly styled the Dunkirk of Ame- 
rica. The taking of this place was considered 
an important service; and Queen Anne, to show 
that she would never part with it, gave it her own 
name, and called it Annapolis Eoyal. Upon 
Colonel Nicholson's return to England, she made 
him governor of Nova Scotia and of Annapolis 
Eoyal, and commander of all her Majesty's forces 
there, and in Newfoundland. 

Things were in this situation when the treaty of 
Utrecht was concluded, by which the right of the 
English to Nova Scotia was confirmed in the plain- 
est terms, it being there declared that all the country 



414 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

of Nova Scotia, or Acadia, ^^'itll all Its ancient 
boundaries, the city of Port Eoyal, now called 
Annapolis, and every thing in these parts de- 
pendent on lands and islands, together with the 
dominion, property, and possession of the said 
islands and lands, shall be for ever vested in the 
crown of Great Britain : moreover, the French king 
agreed to the exclusion of the subjects of France 
from fishing on the coast of Nova Scotia, and within 
thirty leagues, beginning from Cape Sable, and 
stretching along to the south-west. 

This colony, however, was much neglected for 
many years ; for though Nova Scotia had been so 
long delivered up to the English, yet we had 
scarcely any settlement there except at Annapolis 
Eoyal and Canso, while the French had a number 
of little towns and villages scattered along the 
coast, and on the banks of the rivers ; however, the 
English commander at Annapolis was in some 
degree acknowledged as governor. The country 
was then divided into ten or twelve districts, and 
each district annually chose a deputy, to be ap- 
proved by the commander and council at Anna- 
polis ; this deputy was a sort of agent for his 
countrymen the descendants of the French in that 
district, and reported the state of it from time to 
time ; but in what manner it is not difficult to 
determine. There was no civil power ; the French 
missionaries, who were not only appointed by the 
Bishop of Quebec, but absolutely under his direc- 
tion, acted in their several districts and villages as 
the sole magistrates or justices of the peace ; still 



VrESTERX VrOKLD. 415 

all complaints mighty if the parties thouglit proper, 
be brought before the commander and the council 
at Annapolis, which, however, was very rarely done. 

In this wretched situation were these two settle- 
ments, for some time surrounded by disguised 
enemies, continually encroaching, and whose num- 
bers daily increased. At length these descendants 
of the French, though professedly the subjects of 
Great Britain, rose in arms, destroyed Canso, and 
laid siege to Annapolis, but here without success ; 
so that at the conclusion of the peace, in the begin- 
ning of 1749, there were no other English in Nova 
Scotia except the garrison of Annapolis, and the 
inhabitants who lived within a few miles round 
that place. 

However, this peace was no sooner concluded^, 
than the Earl of Halifax projected the complete 
settlement of Nova Scotia by the English, and, 
animated with the warmest zeal for the honour 
and interest of his country, resolved to use his 
utmost endeavours to carry it into execution 
in the most effectual manner. With the other 
lords commissioners of trade and plantations, 
having gained his Majesty's approbation, in 
March, 1749, he published proposals, offering 
proper encouragement to such of the officers 
and private men as, after the conclusion of the 
peace, had been dismissed from his majesty's 
land and sea service, and were willing to accept of 
grants, in order to settle in Nova Scotia. Fifty 
acres of land in fee-simple were offered to every 
private soldier or seaman, free from the payment 



416 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

of any quit-rents and taxes, for the term of ten 
years, and at the expiration of that tiroe they were 
to pay only one shilling a year for every fifty acres. 
But this was not all, every private soldier or sea- 
man who had a family, was to have ten acres for 
every person of which his family consisted, includ- 
ing women and children : further grants also were 
to be made to them on the like conditions as their 
families increased, or according to their ability for 
cultivating the land. 

Eighty acres were oflPered on the same condi- 
tions to every officer in the land service under the 
rank of ensign, and of lieutenant in the sea service, 
and to those who had families, fifteen acres more 
for every person of which their families consisted. 

On- the same conditions two hundred acres were 
to be granted to every ensign, three hundred to 
every lieutenant, four hundred to every captain, 
and six hundred to every ofiicer above the rank 
of captain^ in the land-service. Every lieutenant 
in the sea-service was to have four hundred acres, 
and every captain six hundred ; while such of the 
aboYO officers as had families, were offered a 
farther grant of thirty acres over and above their 
respective quotas for every person belonging to 
them. The same conditions that were proposed 
to private soldiers and sailors, were also offered to 
carpenters, shipwrights, smiths, masons, joiners, 
brickmakers, bricklayers, and all other artificers 
in building and husbandry. 

Moreover, all who were willing to accept these 
proposals were to be maintained, with their families, 



WESTEKN WOULD. 417 

not only during their passage, but for twelve 
months after their arrival at Nova Scotia, and to 
be furnished with arms and ammunition as far as 
should be thought necessary for their defence ; 
with a proper quantity of materials and utensils 
for husbandry, for clearing and cultivating their 
lands, erecting houses, carrying on the fisherj^, 
and such other purposes as might be found proper 
for their support. 

These generous proposals had all the success 
that could be desired ; and about ih'b beginning 
of May most of the transports set sail from Ports- 
mouth with above three thousand families, and 
soon after others followed from Liverpool and 
Ireland. This embarkation, which was the largest 
ever made on such an occasion, was doing at once 
that which in other settlements had not been done 
even under a long course of years. This large 
number of settlers arrived safe at Chebucto har- 
bour on the 28th of July, after a pleasant passage 
of between five and six weeks ; losing few or none 
in the voyage, which was in a great measure owing 
to the ventilators fixed in the transports ; a happy 
invention, then but lately discovered. 

On their arrival, this numerous body found the 
Sphinx of twenty guns, which had entered the 
harbour a few days before, with Colonel Cornwallis, 
their governor, on board. His excellency had 
been informed of the arrival of the French at 
Cape Breton, which had been just restored to that 
nation, and he therefore sent for the English gar- 

2e 



418 DISCOVERIES m THE 

rison from Lonisburg ; they soon after entered tliG 
harbour, with the regiments of Hopson and War- 
burton, on board other transports; the ofBcerg 
bringing with them all their furniture, several 
milch cows, and other stock, with military stores, 
and ammunition of all sorts. About the same 
time there also arrived a company of rangers from 
Annapolis, and encamped near the new settlers, 
in order to give them assistance and protection. 

The next care of the governor was to pitch 
upon a proper spot for the first settlement ; and as 
the peninsula appeared preferable, both on account 
of its commodious situation and the fertility of 
the soil; the able-bodied men on board each ship 
were employed in clearing ground in order to 
build a town at the south point, at the entrance 
of Sandwich river. As many objections were soon 
found against this place, another spot was chosen 
by the governor, at about the distance of a mile and 
a half from it, on the side of Chebucto harbour, 
and on the declivity of a rising ground that com- 
manded the whole peninsula, and would shelter 
the town when built from the north-west winds. 
The beach they found was a fine gravel, convenient 
for small boats, the anchorage every where good 
for large ships within gun-shot of the town, and 
small but navigable rivers of fresh and wholesome 
waters flowed round about it. Here, then, they 
made a second and more successful attempt, and 
indeed it would not have been easy to have chosen a 
more happy situation. They cleared the ground in 



WESTEKN WORLD. 419 

as expeditious a manner as possible, and having 
erected a large wooden house for the governor, 
with proper storehouses, laid out their city so as 
to form a number of straight and beautiful streets, 
crossing each other at equal distances, upon a most 
excellent plan, said to have been formed by the 
Earl of Halifax. The work went on briskly ; the 
people of New England brought several ships laden 
with planks^ door-cases, doors, window-frames, and 
other parts of houses ; and as the men were em- 
ployed in ships' companies, this created an emula- 
tion that rendered their labours remarkably 
successful, so that in about three years' time this 
town, which was named Halifax, from that noble 
lord to whom the settlement owed its beginning, 
was finished, and every family had a good house 
of its own, of which the master was landlord. 
Within the same space of time were also built 
a church and wharfs, the town was enclosed and 
fortifications erected : some land was also cleared 
for agriculture, and already planted, notwithstand- 
ing the opposition they met with from the French, 
and their tools the Indians. To explain this, it 
is necessary to observe that, in the beginning of 
the settlement, and soon after the landing of the 
English, one hundred black cattle and some sheep 
were brought them by land from a French settle- 
ment at Minas, a town about thirty miles from the 
bottom of Bedford Bay ; and as French deputies 
at the same time came to make their submission, 
it was proposed to cut a road thither, the deputies 



420 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

promisiDg to contribute fifty men towards carry- 
ing on the work. The English also received the 
promise of friendship and assistance from the 
Indians^ and their chiefs waited upon the governor 
for that purpose. But these submissions and 
promises were soon broken by the perfidy of the 
French court, which disapproved of the proceed- 
ings, and resolved to harass the English befoi'e 
their town was built and their fortifications erected. 
Instructions were sent from France to the descen- 
dants of the French in Nova Scotia^and immediately 
the scene was changed : the French engaged the 
Indians to use their utmost endeavours to prevent 
the new colony from proceeding ; and the year in 
which peace was proclaimed and Cape Breton 
restored had not expired, when the town began to 
be attacked in the night, and the English, in a 
country which in the strongest terms had been 
secured by treaty to the British crown, could not 
stir into the adjoining woods without the danger 
of being shot at, scalped, or taken prisoners. 
However, they carried on the settlement with 
indefatigable industry, and the town, as has been 
ah-eady mentioned, was happily soon finished. 

But it was impossible to clear woods and plough 
lands without separating into small parties, and 
from this the work was rendered extremely dange- 
rous ; for though the French and Indians durst not 
attack any considerable body of the English, they 
frequently fell upon small parties ; and, though 
they had been often repulsed, they always returned 



WESTERN WOULD; 421 

whenever they eould find an opportunity of doing 
so to advantage. Complaints of this open war in 
a time of peace were made to the court of France, 
when his majesty proposed that commissaries 
should be appointed to settle the bounds of Nova 
Scotia ; but as the French endeavouredj by all the 
arts of sophistry, to prove that Nova Scotia, ceded 
to the English by the treaty of Utrecht, was no 
more than a peninsula of that country, the British 
commissaries asserted our claim to the whole, by 
memorials filled with the strongest and most evi- 
dent proofs. As these, however, failed to produce 
peace. Admiral Boscawen was sent to seize the 
French ships in North America, that England might 
once more have something to restore to France, 
as an inducement to that faithless nation to ad- 
here to her treaties. This expedient was also in 
vain : France appeared evidently to have concerted 
means for conquering all the British dominions on 
the continent of America, and therefore war was 
entered into to prevent it. During this time the 
town of Halifax became firmly established; and 
from being the principal rendezvous for our men- 
of-war, which naturally causes a quick circulation 
of money, the inhabitants were soon in a very pros- 
perous situation. 

Nova Scotia is situated in between 41'' SO' and 
49^ 30' north latitude, and between 60^ and 66"" west 
longitude, and is bounded by the bay of St. Law- 
rence on the north-east ; by the river of St. 
Lawrence on the north-west; by New England 



422 DISCOVERIES IN THE 

on the south- westj and by the bay of Fundy and 
the Atlantic ocean on the east. According to 
these limits it is about four hundred and twenty 
miles in length, and three hundred and eighty 
in breadth. The south-eastern part is a large 
peninsula, extending from the north-east to the 
south-west, and joined to the mainland by au 
isthmus a little above the gulf of Canso. Though 
the weather is very sharp in winter, yet the air^ 
especially about the town of Halifax, is remark- 
ably clear ; so that the severest frosts are frequently 
accompanied with a fine azure sky and sunishine ; 
but though the cold in winter is very severe^ the 
summer is hotter than in England. The coast 
has the advantage of many bays, harbours, and 
creeks, and the land is enriched by many rivers, 
some of which had been navigated for a long course 
by the native Indians. The harbour of Chebucto^ 
upon which is situated the metropolis, was long 
esteemed one of the finest 4n the world, and has 
extraordinary advantages for a fishery. The en- 
trance into it is from the south^ with a large 
island of an irregular form, lying on the north-eabt 
side, named Cornwallis Island, from the first 
governor of Halifax. Betwixt this island and the 
opposite shore on the south-west, is a channel deep 
enough for the largest ships. This island, as well 
as a smaller one that lies higher up the harbour, 
named George island, is very commodiously situated 
for a fishery, with convenience of all sorts proper 
for drying and curing fish. 



WESTEKN WORLD. 423 

About two miles higher up the harbour is a 
creek on the south-west side, with a small harbour 
at its entrance. This creek, which w^as called by 
the first settlers of Halifax Sandwich river, is at 
the mouth about as wide and deep as the Thames 
at London bridge, and is salt water for about 
four or five miles up, w^hen a small fresh water 
rivulet falls into it from the north. From the 
mouth of Sandwich river to the opposite side of the 
harbour is about two miles, with good anchoring 
ground for the largest ships in any part of it, and 
a fine w^atering-place on the north-east side : the 
land on both sides is exceeding high, and in general 
very rich and fertile, but covered with wood. 

About four or five miles north of the above river 
is a narrow entrance of half a mile into Bedford 
bay, w^hich is about twelve miles in circumference, 
and has several creeks at the bottom of it, abound- 
ing with the finest salmon in the greatest plenty ; 
there are also several islands in it ; and a great 
quantity of pines, fit for masts, grow on the 
western side of it. This bay, with the harbour, 
and Sandwich river, divide the peninsula from the 
mainland. 

Upon the opposite shore are several large rivers, 
among which that of St. John is the most con- 
siderable. It is ten leagues distant from the gut 
of Annapolis, and has a very long course. There 
are prodigious falls of water near its mouth not 
less than thirty fathoms deep, occasioned by the 
great head of water above, the channel here being 



424 DISCOYERIES IN THE 

pent up between two steep mountains. By this 
river, and the assistance of some land carriage, 
there was soon made a communication with the 
river St. Lawrence : the French had erected a 
fort upon it, which was taken by the English, who 
continued after this in quiet possession of the 
place. 



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Holy Scriptures written in a Simple and Attractive Manner for 
the Young. By Ingram Cobbin, M.A. A New Edition, 
Revised and Corrected, with Numerous Illustrations, &c. Im- 
perial, gilt edges, extra cloth. 5^". 

10. PRACTICAL HYDROPATHY (Not the Cold- Water System). 
Including plans of Baths, and Remarks on Diet, Clothing, and 
Habits of Life ; with Simple Directions how to carry out the 
Treatment at Home, and to meet sudden attacks of Disease or 
Accidents. Illustrated with 160 Anatomical Engravings, Plans 
of Baths, &c. By John S MEDLEY. Crown Svo. 2s.6d. 

11. LADIES' MANUAL OF PRACTICAL HYDROPATHY 

(Not the Cold- Water System). With various new External Applica- 
tions ; also Directions how to carry out the Treatment for Chil- 
dren and Adults, &c., &c. By Mrs. Smedley. Cloth. 2s, 



8, LoveWs Court, Paternoster Row, London. 



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Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: March 2010 

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